FORMER Hibernian midfielder Kevin Thomson would welcome the arrival of Tony Mowbray as Middlesbrough’s next manager, as chairman Steve Gibson works on a shortlist to succeed Gordon Strachan.

Gibson will spend the next four days assessing the merits of the applications he has had for the Riverside Stadium job, with caretaker Steve Agnew in line to take charge of Saturday’s trip to Norwich City.

Once the trip to Carrow Road is out of the way, Gibson will then work on putting together a four-man shortlist of the candidates he feels are best placed to turn around the club’s fortunes.

Mowbray remains very much in the frame, with the chairman well aware of the importance of appointing someone capable of both winning back the fans and leading Middlesbrough out of the doldrums.

But Gibson is trying to remain neutral, having been encouraged by the pedigree of some of the names that have put themselves forward.

He has been contacted by in and out-of-work managers, with former Bolton boss Gary Megson, ex-Hull City manager Phil Brown and another former Middlesbrough skipper, Paul Ince, known to be three of those.

Everton assistant manager Steve Round, a former Boro coach, is also a contender.

But there has also been large interest from out-ofwork overseas managers, with former West Ham chief and Chelsea striker Gianfranco Zola one of the men to have been in touch.

Gibson, who watched his team slip closer to the relegation zone with a defeat at Nottingham Forest on Tuesday, maintains he will take his time to ensure he makes the right decision, but he knows there is a huge swell of support for Mowbray.

Mowbray, who left Celtic in April, where he is still being paid while on gardening leave, is likely to want to bring in Mark Venus as his assistant, while Stephen Pears, who lost his job as goalkeeping coach under Strachan, could return.

Mowbray’s appointment would prove an interesting dilemma for the four Celtic players – Stephen McManus, Willo Flood, Barry Robson and Scott McDonald – moved on during his time in charge.

But Thomson, made captain at Hibs during Mowbray’s reign there, has backed his former boss.

Mowbray also tried to sign Thomson for West Brom.

The midfielder, currently recovering from a broken leg and speaking in Scotland, said: “Tony is obviously the bookies’ favourite and I’ve worked under him.

“He was a big fans favourite down here as a player and it seems to be the fans are shouting for Mogga and want him to get the job.

“For me as a player, he plays the same football as Gordon.

He’s attack-minded and likes his players to pass the ball.

Therefore, in my scenario, I’d be more than happy if he got the job.”

There was also an insistence from McManus that the players who used to work with Mowbray at Parkhead would not find it difficult to adapt to life under him again.

The £1.5m buy said: “We are not Celtic lads, we are Middlesbrough lads. Everyone else will talk about things like that. Whoever comes in, the chairman will take his time picking the right man.

“We will be 100 per cent behind the man and you take pride in what you do whoever is in charge. That is what we will do. We have no idea who will come in. All you can do is concentrate on your own game. We have to put our work in for Steve Agnew and Mark Proctor.”