No Go For Veno

Blackburn A Step Too Far For Loyal No 2

Mark Venus during his time as assistant to Tony Mowbray at Sunderland.

Mark Venus is unlikely to head north again to prolong one of the longest managerial partnerships in English football.

Tony Mowbray’s installation as Blackburn head coach had prompted assumptions that his long-time no 2 would again link up with him.

But we understand that another reunion is off the agenda for now, leaving the senior man to turn elsewhere for his support staff.

There was no definitive statement about the make-up of Mowbray’s backroom team when he was unveiled over the weekend at the club he previously managed for five and a half years.

Venus was at his side then and for all nine of his past appointments, which also include Albion twice, Birmingham and Coventry.

In addition, they have worked as a duo at the no 2’s boyhood club, Middlesbrough, plus Celtic and Ipswich. It was in East Anglia that they first met as team-mates after Mark McGhee sold Venus in a 1997 swap deal that brought Steve Sedgley to Molineux.

Mowbray, 62 and with a successful battle against bowel cancer behind him, has marvelled at how well Ipswich came out of the transaction as Venus went on to play well over 150 games for them, becoming their Player of the Year, skipper and a hall of fame inductee.

The two have been inseparable professionally for almost 30 years and many had expected them to now be reunited at Ewood Park.

But our sources tell us they will not be joining up for this posting, which became available after Michael O’Neill decided to stay as Northern Ireland boss rather than return full-time to club football.

Venus (left) under aerial threat in Wolves’ 0-0 draw against Bristol Rovers at Bath in 1988-89, with Floyd Streete and Phil Robinson also pictured.

One factor is their geographical circumstances. While Mowbray’s family home is in North Yorkshire, 59-year-old Venus has his main base near Ipswich, although he still has family on Teesside.

We will be watching developments at Ewood Park very closely over the next couple of days and will revisit this story if necessary.

Another O’Neill with a CV showing international football, Martin O’Neill, has caused disappointment for Robbie Keane by agreeing to remain in charge at Celtic for another year.

Keane had been seen as the other main contender for the post and is now likely to be considered by other clubs as he has this summer resigned as head coach at Ferencvaros.