Premier League - Gibson: Southgate will stay

Eurosport - Wed, 27 May 23:21:00 2009

Gareth Southgate will remain as manager of Middlesbrough and try and guide them to an immediate return to the Premier League the club chairman Steve Gibson told the BBC.

FOOTBALL Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate during the Premier League defeat at West Ham that condemned them to relegation to the Championship. Chairman Steve Gibson backed Southgate as the man to guide them to promotion - 0

The 38-year-old former England international has been in charge since June 2006 but having taken them to 13th in his first campaign he failed to keep them up this term as they joined fellow North east club Newcastle in being relegated.

However, Gibson, who has bankrolled the club for well over a decade insisted that Southgate - capped 57 times by England but who will probably be best remembered for failing to convert a penalty in the Euro '96 semi-final defeat to Germany - was the right man for the onerous task of lifting them out of the Championship.

"Gareth has convinced me he knows what it takes to get us back up," Gibson told BBC Radio after meeting with Southgate.

"He is a man I know and admire and we will work together to get this club back to the Premier League."

Gibson, who has seen his side lift the League Cup and reach the UEFA Cup final when Steve McClaren was in charge, said that there should be no witch hunt of Southgate.

"We will not have a scapegoat at this football club, it will not be Gareth Southgate," added Gibson.

"He is a good man, an intelligent man capable of being a top, top manager.

"What we need is the support of the fans and the town, and let's work together to get the club back in the Premier League.

"You may disagree with my decision and I respect that, but I have to make the decision and I am convinced that Gareth is the right man for the job."

Gibson also rejected claims that the club was in a parlous state financially and was in no danger of going into administration, insisting that the 90million pounds debt had been reduced by two thirds.

He was also at pains to deny he was pleased they had fallen into the Championship so it would mean he could cut costs with several of their higher paid stars set to move on such as Turkish international Tuncay Sanli.

"We hate the Championship, we don't want to be here," he said.

"We are a Premier League club, we are a Premier League town with Premier League supporters.

"At the moment, I am a Championship chairman - I want to be a Premier League chairman. It's daft to suggest anything else.

"It's just daft. There is no evidence to support that theory whatsoever."

AFP

Comment 1 - 14 of 14

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  1. I am a lifelong Sunderland supporter but I take no­ pleasure from Middlesbrough's demotion. Boro fans­ seem to be a pessimistic lot but you have to keep the­ faith. Your Chairman's loyalty to the Manager is­ exemplary as is the Manager's dignity in adversity­ and the success of the academy system. With everybody­ pointing in the same direction it will all come right­ in the end. Good luck for next season.

    From donaldianson, on Sun 31 May 1:18AM

  2. I wish you well in the Championship.Relegation­ isn't good but stick with Gareth as its all too­ fashionable to sack managers when results are­ unfavourable.

    From Rick Moth, on Thu 28 May 9:06PM

  3. Smoke without fire is something that springs to mind.­ There is definitely something wrong behind the scenes­ that nobody, even Mr Gibson, will own up to. Virtually­ all of our better players were sold or let go after the­ uefa run and its evident to see that they were not­ sufficiently replaced.
    Championship football is a lot­ tougher than those who believe GS can bring us back up.­ We may be there for a lot longer than anticipated if an­ old warhorse isn't brought to the helm. GS­ couldn't cut it when he had money to spend ( its­ his team ), he'll have no chance with empty­ pockets.

    From mortgageandmoneycentre, on Thu 28 May 5:43PM

  4. He's been there since 2006. That's an awful­ long time in football terms. And you still think he­ knows something you don't?

    From Silver N, on Wed 27 May 11:52PM

  5. As a Toon fan, best chairman in the league. Look at the­ journey you have had since he took over and the times­ that went before.

    From john.connolly01, on Wed 27 May 10:56PM

  6. HOW THE F*CK DID SOUTHGATE KEEP HIS JOB,YOU JUST GOT­ RELAGATED,ARE GIBSON AND SOUTHGATE BUM CHUM'S.ANY­ OTHER CLUB WOULD HAVE SACKED HIM BY NOW.

    From clive, on Wed 27 May 5:12PM

  7. well.....mr.gibson hasnt got where he is today on­ making bad decisions,hes a millionaire,I wish I was­ lol.so is patience the word for next season!!!!

    From butchkins, on Wed 27 May 4:41PM

  8. if the start of the season starts s*** then Gibson­ should try get an experienced Manager or try get Bryan­ Robson back

    From jonesboro94, on Wed 27 May 4:28PM

  9. kht20, clearly Gibson has more money than sense.­ Pompey, Spurs and Blackburn all put things right with­ plenty of time to go, to give the incoming manager time­ to turn things around. So, because I support another­ team means that I cannot comment on this? Gibson's­ dogged determination to keep Southgate means that you­ are now in the Championship, with little evidence that­ you can attract the players to get you out again.

    From Peter S, on Wed 27 May 3:53PM

  10. Well done Gibson for having the guts to face your­ unhappy consumers; pity ashley has to do it, as always,­ via a 'press release' - coward! Commiserations­ to all 'the boro' fans on relegation; it hurts­ like Hell . . . i know!!!!

    From cameron w, on Wed 27 May 2:45PM

  11. sack him i am boro t i die he was a good defender but­ managerial wise he dosent have a clue bring in terry­ venables

    From Jack, on Wed 27 May 2:01PM

  12. Just make sure you get us out of the bloody­ championship and then we'll see if steve gibson has­ made the right decision in keeping him. but i trust the­ chairmans descision as he always has the best interests­ for the club and its not as if he doesent know what­ he's doing is it.

    From smiley123, on Wed 27 May 12:54PM

  13. Peter S Please explain why you hope Boro will remain a­ Championship side. Whether you agree or not with Gibson­ the decision to keep Gareth SDouthgate as manager and­ give him a chance to gain promotion is his to make, as­ he effectively owns the club and it's his money! If­ you are a Boro fan accept his decision or move on and­ stop these moaning posts. If you are not a Boro­ supporter, which I suspect, move on to your own or some­ other clubs board and leave us true suppoorters to a­ short period of grief and re-adjustment. Steve Gibson­ is a self made multi millionaire businessman, I'm­ guessing you aren't, yet you have the gall to call­ him stupid???????

    From kht20, on Wed 27 May 12:21PM

  14. "Gareth has convinced me he knows what it takes to­ get us back up," - he certainly knew how to get­ you down! "We are a Premier League club, we are a­ Premier League town with Premier League­ supporters" - er, no, thanks to Southgate and his­ team, you are now in the Championship, and hopefully,­ that is where you will stay. The stupidity of Gibson­ never ceases to amaze me!

    From Peter S, on Wed 27 May 10:18AM
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