Championship - Southgate warns players

Eurosport - Fri, 19 Jun 12:42:00 2009

Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate has warned his players they will only win back the fans by winning Championship games.

2008-2009 Middlesbrough Gareth Southgate - 0

The Teessiders have been presented with the fixture list they must negotiate if they are to return to the Barclays Premier League at the first attempt in the wake of a demoralising relegation.

Devastated supporters are still waiting to see which of the current squad of players they could lose as Southgate prepares to rebuild for the challenge ahead.

However, he knows there is only one way faith can be restored and said: "The fans will be a big element for us. We have got to win them over and we appreciate the support many of them have already given us in buying season tickets.

"But last season was understandably a big disappointment for the fans. As a team and for me as the manager there is a big task to with that support back. The only way to do that is to win matches.

"I'm well aware of how people feel. We have got to win games. If we play good football and win games, then we will get the crowds in."

PA Sport

Comment 1 - 9 of 9

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  1. Selling top players and no money to bring in new. Can­ you really see us going back up? I can't. ­ Downing-TOTTENHAM?? Johnson-CHELSEA?? Tuncay-??­ Alves-?? Huth-?? O'Neil-?? Bates-?? most of the­ money will go to offset club debts. How much will be­ left? Not much and with Aliadier and his 5 goals a­ season we'll be lucky to get mid-table.

    From GEOFF, on Sun 21 Jun 6:54PM

  2. lets be honest Southgate aint very good is he??? I­ remember how he talked something about champions league­ in the begginning of the season, and look where they­ are now. And it is not like he didnt have money to­ spend. 11 millon on Alves. Way da go Southgate

    From Raimo K, on Sat 20 Jun 11:42PM

  3. Hope you guys do well. A good club with what appears to­ be a great chairman. Straight back up I reckon, you­ dont want to get stuck down here, its a whole different­ ball game. Derby fan.

    From Guy D, on Sat 20 Jun 4:11PM

  4. well there nt gunna win us ova by winning premier­ league games coz were not in that league southgate you­ potato head!! lol anyway yeh its gunna take a lot to­ win over me after last season and the same goes for a­ lot of other fans.

    From smiley123, on Fri 19 Jun 10:33PM

  5. How did you find out?

    From GEOFF, on Fri 19 Jun 3:44PM

  6. could be big changes today gibbs has called a meeting­ in london all must attend some even been called back­ from holidays who s to go?

    From peter, on Fri 19 Jun 10:20AM

  7. Was it he who also astounded the football world with­ his sagacity when he observed that the best way to win­ matches is to score more goals than the opposition?

    From al, on Fri 19 Jun 6:38AM

  8. Oh he's good!

    From cameron w, on Thu 18 Jun 10:36PM

  9. "Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate has warned­ his players they will only win back the fans by winning­ Championship games."

    No @#$%.

    From rhyshall21, on Thu 18 Jun 4:55PM
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