WHEN opposites attract, the result can be extremely positive. In the case of Tony Mowbray and Mark Venus, that has proved to be the case from the moment they were united as Ipswich Town's defensive rock.

WHEN opposites attract, the result can be extremely positive. In the case of Tony Mowbray and Mark Venus, that has proved to be the case from the moment they were united as Ipswich Town's defensive rock.

Now the man who brought them together at Portman Road 12 years ago, George Burley, has joined the throng eager to see how they approach their biggest ever task - putting Celtic back on top in Scottish football.

The current Scotland manager was in charge of Ipswich during a successful eight-year spell in which they battled their way out of the Championship via the play-offs, then finished a highly creditable fifth in the Premiership.

Along they way there were many dark days and difficult hurdles to overcome. And Burley admits he was reassured to have Mowbray and Venus to call upon as Ipswich negotiated their tricky path back to the big time.

Lessons learned are still being put to good use by all involved.

And having touched base with his former players at their new domain in Lennoxtown, Burley is confident that the double act will waste no time in putting their imprint on a Celtic side desperate to regain the SPL title and earn a place in the Champions League.

Burley was happy to give the Hoops players about to report back this week an insight into what awaits them in the shape of the two Englishmen now in charge of the club.

He said: "Even when Tony was a player at Ipswich, he was a deep thinker.

"He tended to keep his opinions to himself. But when he did speak, he was a leader of men and someone people would listen to.

"Mark was much more outgoing and willing to offer his opinions. He has not changed much over the years.

"They are different types, but complement each other well."

Burley has closely followed their managerial journey through Hibs, West Brom and now to Celtic.

He admits it was no surprise to see Mowbray go into his chosen career, but revealed he did not immediately spot Venus's inclination to make the jump from playing to managing.

"I thought when we were at Ipswich that Tony was already looking to get into the management side of things one day, but I was not so sure about Mark.

"As players, they were different types as well. I got Tony from Celtic at a time when he had not been playing all that regularly.

"I knew him from our his years at Middlesbrough and appreciated he was a strong, commanding centre-half."

Burley added: "He did not let me down and did a terrific job for the team.

"A couple of years after signing Tony, I got Mark from Wolves where he was also struggling to get a regular game.

"They wanted Steve Sedgley, and I managed to get Mark plus £500,000, which was a good bit of business.

"We played with three men at the back. Tony was in the centre and was very good at winning the ball in the air and organising.

"Mark was on the left and was good with the ball. He was an excellent passer and liked to join in the play from the back, which was just what I had wanted.

"The partnership worked well. Sometimes it is the fact they are different which makes it work."

This is a true today as it was then. Celtic players can expect to hear more from Venus than from Mowbray - and even more from coach Peter Grant, who accompanied the pair north from West Brom.

But when Mowbray has a point to make, Burley insists he has the presence to ensure it is noted.

The mantra he preaches is good football, and Burley believes the indoctrination into this faith began during his time at Portman Road.

"There's a long-established good football philosophy at Ipswich, and I was lucky enough to be there as a player and then manager," said the Scotland boss.

"Tony and Mark both benefited from this, and have taken it into their management career. You can see that by the way they set out their teams to play."

The task ahead, though, amounts to a tougher examination of managerial skill than any experienced before by Mowbray and Venus, and the scrutiny will be intense.

It is something Burley believes they have already accepted is part and parcel of the job. He said: "Tony has been a player at Celtic and managed at Hibs, so it is nothing he does not know about it.

"I spoke to Tony a few days ago and he is very aware of what it is all about here and is looking forward to it."

With a vital World Cup tie in Norway on August 12, and Celtic involved in Champions League qualifying ties either side of that game, there was much for the two to discuss.

But Burley revealed the chat covered the gamut of subjects and said: "Tony wanted to ask me about a number of things.

"Of course, the situation with Scott Brown and Stephen McManus was one of the things I wanted to discuss.

"Scott only had his surgery on his ankle about a week ago, but Tony is very optimistic he will be back in time for their Champions League qualifiers at the end of next month.

"That's good news for Scotland, as we have got our very important game in Norway a few weeks later and we want to have Scott available for that one.

"Stephen is another to keep an eye on in the run-up to that game as he recovers from his knee surgery."