IT'S the $64million question: Just how much slack will Tony Mowbray cut Artur Boruc?

IT'S the $64million question: Just how much slack will Tony Mowbray cut Artur Boruc?

The new Celtic manager is becoming acquainted with his No.1 goalkeeper this week as the players get back down to serious training ahead of the season's kick-off.

However, long before they met, there is no doubt Mowbray would have done his homework on the shot-stopper who has enjoyed a roller-coaster four years at the club.

Previous manager Gordon Strachan developed his own unique style for coping with Boruc and his indiscretions.

The former Hoops boss was accused of being too lenient with the errant Pole whose on-field gaffes, off-field misdemeanours and dressing room ructions won as many headlines as his game-saving saves.

When he looks in the mirror, Strachan will be satisfied that every decision he made was for the good of the club, even if they often went against the disciplinary grain.

If he spots the teeth marks on his tongue from biting it so often, that will be no surprise.

Strachan never publicly criticised his keeper, preferring to keep his lambastating in-house.

The fact that he never felt there was a long-term replacement on hand as the ultimate threat to Boruc made it a very fine line the manager had to walk when dealing with the problems Boruc's lifestyle brought.

A parent of three, Strachan was well aware there is no point in threatening sanctions if you are not prepared to - or be in a position to - carry them through.

And damaging the resale value of one of the club's main assets by airing his dirty washing in public was never going to be a man-management strategy which would be supported by the men who know more about the value of the players on the books than the price of losing control over them.

But Boruc's response was not that of a man who appreciated being given the opportunity to atone. Instead, he chose to show contrition for only short periods, before returning to a lifestyle which has more in common with a playboy than a player, as the waistline will confirm.

The wobbly middle was something he first developed as a youngster trying to make his way in the professional game in Poland, and he was happy to recall often stopping off on his way to training to consume a hot dog or two, with the same culinary indiscretions committed on the way home.

Not surprisingly, his weight ballooned while his career failed to really take off, until the penny (or the pounds) dropped.

On arrival in Scotland in 2005, the slimline Boruc was known to sneer at the condition of the keepers he worked with here. Imitation is the most sincere form of flattery, but Boruc has often taken this too far.

Fellow players, directors and fans will look on with avid interest to see if Mowbray shows as much tolerance of Boruc as Strachan, or if the clean slate which the new manager brings will mean the rules are the same for everyone.

The former defender is well aware how special treatment' can be as divisive as it can be helpful, especially within an area as volatile as a dressing room.

Aiden McGeady - no stranger to confrontation with Boruc - does not believe he enjoyed the same latitude from Strachan as was afforded the keeper.

However, for all the problems Boruc caused the previous manager during their four seasons together, the Pole always had the good sense not to hurl abuse at the man in charge in full hearing of the rest of the players.

Different strokes for different folks is a policy every boss has to follow, and Mowbray will be well versed in this particular chapter of the manager's rule book.

Boruc will be told what is expected of him in terms of his condition, his behaviour and his work.

In that regard, he will be no different from anyone else, though the scrutiny make him feel he is a special case. Quite what effect the arrival of good friend Lukasz Zaluska may have, only time will tell.

There is no doubt Boruc never felt that Mark Brown was a genuine threat to his place. And, in any walk of life, without competition, standards inevitably drop.

Boruc knows what Zaluska brings to the party, both in terms of ability and ambition, with the international jersey also potentially up for grabs if he can overtake his pal in the club stakes.

However, the Bosman signing from Dundee United was recruited under Strachan's managership.

So there will remain a question over how highly he is rated by Mowbray until such time as the new boss gets down to actually picking his starting XI.

New goalkeeping coach Stevie Woods will be reporting back to Mowbray from this specialist area. But Mowbray's own eyes will also be trained on this first major issue.

Could it be a renaissance for Art? Or is he destined to slip out of the main picture? The fine detail is about to be filled in.

For Mowbray, it certainly won't be painting by numbers.