TONY MOWBRAY has opened up on his battle against bowel cancer, and revealed that he still wants to get back into football management once he has completed his recovery from illness.

Mowbray was forced to step down from his position as Birmingham City boss in May when he was diagnosed with bowel cancer.

The former Sunderland boss admits his ‘world came crashing down’ when he was told he was suffering from cancer, and there were days when he found himself collapsed on the floor as he struggled with the illness.

After a lengthy period of treatment, the 60-year-old is on the road to recovery, and in an interview with BBC Tees, he explained just how difficult the last few months have been.

Mowbray said: “It’s been the toughest year of my life. Out of the blue, my illness was diagnosed. My world came crashing down, really.

“The way I was going to the toilet had changed, so they had a look and I got diagnosed with bowel cancer. But when you get an illness like I got, it’s about the family really.

“I remember sitting in a hospital bed, and my kids had tears in their eyes, not sure whether I was going to get through it or not, to be honest.

“I was very, very ill. Some days you were feeling ill, and others I would collapse and black out and find myself on the kitchen floor.”

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Mowbray’s cancer was diagnosed after he noticed a change in his toiletry habits, and he has urged anyone experiencing similar symptoms to approach a doctor.

Had he not taken a similar course of action, his current situation could have been an awful lot worse.

He said: “The message from myself, loud and clear, is that if there’s something not normal, don’t be afraid to go and see a doctor.

“It’s worth it, because it’s not only you, think about your family. If you’ve got kids, they want to see their dad until he’s an old man, so they can take him on holiday or push him around in a wheelchair, or whatever it might be.”

Since being diagnosed and stepping down from his position at St Andrew’s, Mowbray has spent most of his time back on his native Teesside.

He has been bowled over by the support he has received – not least from strangers who keep handing him chocolates.

He said: “The football world on mass (has been great), not just the people of Teesside, although the people on Teesside have been extra special, of course.

“People have been stopping me on the street and giving me Mars bars. Some gentleman walking his dog, turned around, went in a shop, and then ran after me with the dog to give me a family bag of Revels. It’s really, really, really humbling, and I thanks everybody from the bottom of my heart.”

Mowbray’s prognosis is extremely positive, although he admits there are still times when the effects of his illness have an impact.

He is getting stronger every day, though, and while he does not yet feel ready to return to football, he is hoping he will be able to take up a new managerial position in the early part of next year.

He said: “I love football, and I do want to get back into the game. But today, I stand here and I’m not ready. I haven’t got the energy required to be a football manager.

“But I will, I’m pretty sure. I’m going to take my amazing wife on holiday in the next couple of weeks, but in the new year, I’ll see what’s out there and what opportunities come, and hopefully my body is telling me that I’m ready to go.”