The new City boss has his sights set on attacking football but is first looking at keeping the Sky Blues in League One…
New Coventry City manager Tony Mowbray has expressed his desire to 'ignite the passion back in the fans' after being unveiled as the Sky Blues' new manager this afternoon.The 51-year old has signed a contract until the end of the season and has expressed a philosophy of attacking football as City look to push themselves clear of the League One relegation zone.
Mowbray said that the contract he signed suited both parties and that the hard work begins straight away, with City playing Barnsley at Oakwell tonight before taking on Port Vale at the Ricoh Arena on Saturday.
"I'm excited and looking forward to the challenge," he said. "I'm here because of the stature and potential of Coventry.
"You never stop being a Coventry fan. All the thousands that were there at Wembley in 1987, all the thousands that were at the Gillingham game in September, I want them back.
"I want people to enjoy coming to football matches. I want to produce football teams that play through the lines of the opposition and score goals.
"I want this city to be proud of its team, to go to their friends on Saturday night 'Have you seen our team, they are playing great football', and then their friends will come.
"The league table does not lie, we are one clear of safety. Confidence, belief, they are things that will change in the players in the next few games.
"Hopefully as the club moves forward we will create a new identity, that is the plan.
"The contract allows us both time, for me to see how the club runs and for them to see how I operate. It suits both parties."
Mowbray is known for an attacking style of football that has seen him gain fans and plaudits at the likes of West Bromwich Albion, Hibernian and Middlesbrough.
Whilst the short term aim is survival in the league, Mowbray eventually wants the side to replicate his past teams and play with the ball at feet.
He continued: "It's a big challenge. I'm here to light that torch and put Coventry back where they should be, which is at minimum knocking on the door of the Premier League.
"In this league Coventry City should be able to play with the ball. I know a few of the players already, Jim O'Brien, John Fleck and Adam Barton are all good players who have caught my eye before.
"The reason I am talking about implementing a passing game and a new philosophy is because I am looking at the future.
"But the here and now is that we have to survive. Coventry do not have a divine right to stay in the league.
"I'd like to think that my passion is real and you can see that, it's not manufactured. The Coventry City team that I remember, in my mind is 'Killer' Kilcline, Houchen's diving header. I want to light the fuse again."