Southgate exit my toughest decision says Gibson

Caption competition
Caption competition
View past winners of our Sports caption competition
News in pictures
News in pictures
On Facebook
Sport blogs

iBet: Stoke face a Valencia side on form

Stoke have lost their last four in the league and play a Valencia side that's third in La Liga.

Rugby League: World Club Challenge raises profits, and eyebrows

After 40-odd years of watching and writing about this game, I thought I had my eyebrows under contro...

iBet: AC Milan’s lead at the top looks temporary

Juventus lost the lead of Serie A in Italy at the weekend by virtue of their game with Bologne being...

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.

Independent Comment
blog comments powered by Disqus
Career Services

Day In a Page

How an abortion divided America

How an abortion divided America

Single mother who took a pill to end her pregnancy is now fighting a landmark prosecution in a conservative state
Can you master a language in a weekend?

Can you master a language in a weekend?

Ed Cooke insists he can use his techniques as a memory expert to help novices learn even the hardest tongues.
The 10 best heaters

The 10 best heaters

From the DeLonghi Retro Fan Heater to the Dimplex MicroFire
Coming soon to a shelf near you: The publishing industry has gone mad for film-style trailers

Coming soon to a shelf near you

The publishing industry has gone mad for film-style trailers
Mad, bad and delightful to know: How Lord Byron became a cultural superstar

How Lord Byron became a cultural superstar

As the poet takes centre stage in the West End, Boyd Tonkin looks into the life of the outspoken champion of the poor
Did they all live happily ever after? That's up to you...

Did they all live happily ever after? That's up to you...

New digital novel will overturn centuries of literary tradition by allowing readers to choose how they would like story to end
How to look good for less – Primark in copycat row

How to look good for less – Primark in copycat row

With London Fashion Week starting tomorrow, designers are closeted in studios putting finishing touches to their collections
James Lawton: Arsène and Arsenal are living in the past

James Lawton

Arsène and Arsenal are living in the past
How Docherty's resurgent Reds beat Dutch greats

How Docherty's resurgent Reds beat Dutch greats

United have met Ajax only once before in Europe, in 1976. The key performers recall an electric occasion
Civil war at Ajax

Civil war at Ajax

A rift between two club legends has torn the Dutch giants apart
Lewis Moody: For an idea of where England are headed, look at Wales now

Lewis Moody column

For an idea of where England are headed, look at Wales now
Geoff Toovey: Little gem with huge incentive to become king of the world

Geoff Toovey interview

Little gem with huge incentive to become king of the world
Picture preview: Portrait of London

Portrait of London

Picture preview
No secularism please, we're British

No secularism please, we're British

Arguments about the role of religion in national life have recently acquired a new urgency
Harold Tillman: 'Chinese tourists can save the high street – if we let them'

Harold Tillman interview

'Chinese tourists can save the high street – if we let them'