Tony Mowbray believes Blackburn Rovers ‘is a much better bet than Ipswich Town’ as he prepares to begin the new season against his former club.

Mowbray, who made more than 150 appearances for the Blues as a player, was linked with the manager’s job earlier this summer prior to the appointment of Paul Hurst but insists he had no contact with owner Marcus Evans.

He leads his Rovers side at Portman Road today and admits, even if he had been asked to return to a clubs he holds deep affection for, he sees Blackburn as a club with greater potential at the present moment.

“There was never any contact,” Mowbray said.

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“I know Marcus Evans reasonably well and have had a few interviews with him over the years at various times in between jobs.

“At those times it was never right for various reasons. This summer there was never a question asked of me.

“As people who would have seen those things in my family they would have asked me those questions and in my opinion Blackburn Rovers is a much better bet than Ipswich Town for the potential of where it could go at the moment.

“That’s not being negative to Ipswich Town, that’s me having a confidence having met the owners that we can get this ball rolling and who knows where it will stop.

“I like the club, I like the people, I’ve tried to connect with not just the players but the supporters and the owners and it’s important you enjoy coming to work.

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“My family are settled, I can manage the commute (from his home on Teesside) and there’s no need for me think about changing the life I’ve got.

“This is the journey we’re on, the team we’re focusing with and looking forward to the challenge of it.”

Of his current side, he said: “The team look forward to hard work, you could see that particularly in the second half of last season and as long as we can get the same workrate from them then I don’t fear the season.

“I’m looking forward to it, we should relish every game and although we’re not necessarily going to be favourites going in we know we can give teams problems.”