Former Town captain and coach Tony Mowbray has been named the Tennent's Manager of the Year after taking his Hibernian side to the verge of a third place finish in the Scottish Premier League in his first season as a manager.

Mowbray has won innumerable plaudits since leaving Portman Road for Easter Road last summer and is now widely tipped to succeed Martin O'Neill when the Northern Irishman leaves Celtic.

The ex-central defender has been warmly welcomed back to Parkhead, where he was captain during his playing days, when returning with Hibs this season.

Scottish Football Writers Association president Jim Black outlined why his members gave the award to Mowbray: "Tony has worked wonders in difficult circumstances. He has set high standards in his first managerial job and no one can argue with this choice."

Mowbray has been joined at Hibs by former Town defensive partner Mark Venus, a player-coach, and ex-Blues youngsters Antonio Murray, Chris Hogg and Sam Morrow.

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