Southgate exit my toughest decision says Gibson

By Damian Spellman, PA

Wednesday, 21 October 2009

Share
Close
- Digg
- del.icio.us
- Facebook
- Reddit
- Google
- Stumble Upon
- Fark
- Newsvine
Print
Email

<p> <b>Middlesborough</b> </p> <p> <i>Manager:</i> Gareth Southgate (June 2006) Last season: Relegated </p> <p> <i>Warnock's verdict:</i> Boro have gone about their business quietly in the summer and held on to most of their players. They've young talent and, as we have found, young talent can flourish in this division. They've also signed Lita, who can be a handful. That's where the parachute payment helps. We were offered him but his wages were out of our reach. It's a big season for Gareth. He's an honourable man and if he doesn't take them straight back up I can't see him waiting for Steve Gibson to give him the bad news. One of the favourites. </p> <p> <i>Key stat: </i>Scored 28 goals last season, the fewest in the Premier League. </p> <p> <i>Key man:</i> Tuncay Sanli – The Turkey international netted seven goals and provided four assists for Boro last year. </p> <p> <i>Major signings: </i>L Lita (Reading), M Yeates (Colchester, £550,000). Major departures: S Downing (Aston Villa, £12m), R Turnbull (Chelsea, free). </p> <p> <i>Promotion odds:</i> 100-30 (vc bet). </p>

getty images

Southgate was sacked despite hit side placed just one point from the top of the table

enlarge

Middlesbrough chairman Steve Gibson was today launching a search for a new manager after reluctantly relieving Gareth Southgate of his duties.

Gibson wielded the axe just hours after the Teessiders had ended a run of three successive home defeats with a 2-0 victory over Derby which left them a point off the top of the Coca-Cola Championship table.

He admitted the decision had been the toughest of his reign at the Riverside Stadium to date.

In a statement released through the club's official website, www.mfc.co.uk, he said: "This has been the most difficult decision I have had to make in all the time I have been in football.

"Gareth has given Middlesbrough Football Club magnificent service as a skipper and, in very difficult circumstances, as manager.

"I appointed Gareth in a situation that was greatly unfavourable to him.

"He is a good man and has all the qualities and integrity that we wanted in a manager.

"However, the time is right for change and that change has had to be made.

"Gareth will always be welcome at our football club. English football needs people of his stature and we feel certain that this experience will serve him well.

"Gareth deserves another opportunity once he has had the chance to rest and refresh himself."

Speculation had been rife for days that Southgate could be heading for the exit door with sections of the club's support in open revolt.

Indeed, a crowd of just 17,459 turned out to see Adam Johnson shoot down the Rams with a double either side of half-time to apparently ease the pressure on his manager.

Southgate seemed to have no inkling of what was to happen as he conducted his post-match press conference as usual.

But at around midnight, the club confirmed his departure in a brief statement.

It read: "Middlesbrough FC have tonight announced that manager Gareth Southgate has been relieved of his position with immediate effect.

"Football consultant Alan Smith will also be leaving the club as part of the change."

Southgate was appointed by Gibson as Steve McClaren's successor during the summer of 2006, going into the hotseat just weeks after captaining the club in their UEFA Cup final defeat to Sevilla.

Boro had to fight for special dispensation from the Barclays Premier League to hand the then 35-year-old the job because he did not have the necessary UEFA Pro Licence.

The former England international kept the club in the top flight with 12th- and 13th-place finishes respectively in his first two seasons at the helm, but was unable to prevent them from slipping into the Championship at the end of the last campaign as he found himself working within a tight budget.

Comments

( Leave a comment )

What goes around, comes around

rockinrog wrote:

Wednesday, 21 October 2009 at 09:41 am (UTC)

"Boro had to fight for special dispensation from the Barclays Premier League to hand the then 35-year-old the job because he did not have the necessary UEFA Pro Licence" - perhaps if they had employed a manager who did...

Link | Reply | Thread

What do people want from a manager?

mannygoldstein wrote:

Wednesday, 21 October 2009 at 10:15 am (UTC)

As a new and inexperienced manager he achieved credible mid-table places in the first two seasons and then the club went down when his budget was reduced.

His team are now a point off the top of the table, meaning he has every chance of getting them back into the Premiership, yet he is still sacked?

What more could he have done in the circumstances?

Link | Reply | Thread

Re: What do people want from a manager?

rockinrog wrote:

Thursday, 22 October 2009 at 12:46 pm (UTC)

It's a mystery. You might ask Capello the same thing about Real Madrid and Mancini the same re Inter. The only surprise is that it was Gibson, who up until now always seemed a level-headed sort of bloke. Boro are playing better football than at any time I can remember (and I remember Ayrsome Park), albeit in a lower division. Southgate is finding his feet and some of the players were responding well. Still I look forward to making a pile on them to get relegated next season because we all know they are going up this season under [insert name of unemployed but desperate manager] but will struggle to stay in the Premier League (again).

Link | Reply | Parent | Thread

(no subject) -

myyshop060606 - Wednesday, 21 October 2009 at 01:02 pm (UTC) Expand