Brian Clough's Leeds & 'tummy tickling': Best bits from Tony Mowbray's West Brom return

After a year of battling cancer, Mowbray was given the all clear to return to work before succeeding Carlos Corberan as Albion's new boss, 16 years after his last spell in charge at The Hawthorns.

He was in the stands for last week's draw against Stoke, before meeting with the media for the first time ahead of his side's disappointing defeat with Middlesbrough on Tuesday evening.

During his unveiling, a passionate Mowbray went into detail on a host of different subjects, from his year long battle with cancer, how he sees Albion playing and what he feels his required to move them forward.

Jonny Drury looks back at some of the key lines and best bits from his first few days in the job.

Mowbray on the play-off challenges & parachute payment differences

The new Baggies boss spent time talking about his Albion ambition's in his press conference on Monday and the play-offs were at the top of the agenda. 

Elsewhere, in his Albion TV interview Mowbray talked about potentially trying to catch the top four, if his side can put four or five wins on the bounce together.

That does seem a bit of a long shot as things currently stand, but it outlined how he feels about his Baggies squad in its current form.

He also made a real point of discussing the difference between the Championship of 16 years ago and how the division looks now in terms of parachute payments.

He said: "Parachute payments make it more difficult, but while they were there back then. When look at the league the anomaly is Luton after selling lots of players. Leeds, Sheffield United still up there and payments giving them opportunity to keep high quality players that make the difference."

Mowbray was right to make that point, because both Albion and the league are different. When he came in last time, Albion were in receipt of parachute payments so they were at the top of the financial pile. Now they're not, but the difference between those still in receipt of big payments and those without is probably bigger now than it was during his first spell.

That does make Mowbray's job harder, however he was in no way using that as an excuse. He was making a point of it, while also being very clear that his side are good enough to mount a challenge and get into the play-offs.

'Unleashing the technicians' and not doing a Clough at Leeds

Among all the talk of how he wants to tweak and change things at Albion, Mowbray came out with a brilliant quote of not doing what the legendary Brian Clough did at Leeds.

He said: "It is good for me, I am trying not to disrupt too much because there is not too much wrong. My brain was going to Leeds and Clough and telling players to put medals in bin."

His line did garner a laugh from the press but his point was very valid. He went on to explain how defensively structured Albion are, and it is true. Corberan had them well drilled and Mowbray made an effort of praising the former Baggies boss for the work he had done.

During these sections of talking about his want to make Albion more expansive and let the forward players, 'off the leash', he referenced the side needed its 'tummy tickled'.

It was another line that led to a laugh but he was clear in his message of not needing to change things too much, and that is a luxury that isn't afforded to new managers very often.

Mowbray also stated he wanted to 'unleash the technicians', and he struck a real balance that I imagine will have gone down really well with the Albion players.

He has recognised the defensive work done and the defensively qualities Albion have both collectively and individually, but also heaped praise on the attacking talent there, while also explaining how he wants to get more out of them.

Recruitment, working together & owners

Asked about the owners, Mowbray explained how impressed he was with their intelligence and how well the club has run.

And the conversation then went on to sporting director Andrew Nestor, and the recruitment process at Albion that has been implemented at Bilkul.

When Mowbray began in management it was very different, but during his previous spell at Albion, the club became a standout one in terms of working with a sporting director and putting in place a different recruitment process.

Back in his first spell, Mowbray worked very closely with Dan Ashworth, who at the time had become one of English football's first sporting directors.

So in terms of what he's walking into at Albion, Mowbray has been here before and he made a point of saying, 'he has grown into modern day football'.

It may be a different process, but it will be familiar for the new Baggies boss and one what will now pose a problem. He will have a say on transfers and targets that are presented to him. To be honest I would be surprised if his opinion wasn't the strongest in the room.

If he isn't happy with a player presented to him, I can't imagine Albion would make a move to bring them in.

And the mark of how happy or impressed Mowbray was with both Shilen Patel and Nestor was a line on intelligence, when he said: "There are people who are much cleverer than me!"