Skipper Jonathan Greening is confident West Brom manager Tony Mowbray will remain at The Hawthorns after all-but securing the club's return to the Barclays Premier League.

And the midfielder can see similarities between the former Hibernian boss and Manchester United legend Sir Alex Ferguson.

Greening, who knows Ferguson's qualities from his spell at Old Trafford, is aware Mowbray will attract interest from bigger clubs if he continues to be successful.

He has guided the Midlands club back to the verge of the top flight in his first full season in charge and in recent weeks has been linked with two of his previous clubs - Middlesbrough and Celtic.

But Greening believes Mowbray will want to complete the job he has started at West Brom in helping to establish them as a Premier League force.

Greening said: "Tony Mowbray reminds me a lot of Sir Alex Ferguson - in fact, everything about him.

"He has got an aura, you listen to what he says and what he says always makes sense - the same qualities as Sir Alex.

"I think he likes to play football in the right way, just like Sir Alex, and I think he has got every chance of being a top manager with West Brom and also going on and being a top manager in the Champions League as well.

"He knows everything about the game, tactics, and everything. I have really enjoyed working for him for a year and a half.

"Training is very good and enjoyable every day and that can only help everyone and that is why we have probably got a good team spirit."

Greening added: "I think there have been things in the paper about Celtic being interested in the gaffer and Middlesbrough as well. The more he does with West Brom, the more he is going to be linked with a lot of teams.

"But he has started something here at West Brom and will probably want to finish it off. It will have to be a big temptation for him to leave."

Greening also believes it is vital 24-goal leading scorer Kevin Phillips signs a new contract.

He said: "It will be massive to keep Kevin Phillips. He has scored so many goals for us this year - but it is not just that which is important.

"It is his aura around the place. He is one of the jokers of the place, one of the lads who brings the team spirit together.

"Hopefully the chairman (Jeremy Peace) will sit down with him and sort out a new deal sooner rather than later and Kevin can have a good summer and prepare for next year."

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