Gibson vows to stand by embattled Southgate

MIDDLESBROUGH chairman Steve Gibson yesterday resisted a growing chorus of disapproval by insisting he has no plans to sack manager Gareth Southgate.

The 38-year-old former England defender has found himself firmly in the firing line in recent weeks as his side has slipped down the Premier League table.

Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at Stoke left Boro four points from safety with only bottom-of-the-table West Brom worse off, and they have now been installed by many as certainties to fall through the trapdoor into the Football League along with the Baggies.

However, despite the stinging criticism coming his way, Southgate has defiantly refused to contemplate anything other than the task at hand over the final eight games of a desperately difficult season, and Gibson remains firmly in his corner.

The chairman said: “I have spoken with a lot of fans over the last few weeks and they ask me about Gareth Southgate.

“But the magic wand in our situation isn’t sacking Gareth Southgate.

“Of course, everybody has their opinion in football and I understand the frustration of the fans.

“I have always said that we have a knowledgeable crowd at Middlesbrough and you have to respect that.

“I take on board the views of the fans because I care as much as they do. But if I was to sack Gareth Southgate at this stage, how would it help the situation?”

Gibson added: “The one thing I know is that Gareth Southgate is hurting as well.

“I see him on a regular basis and I know how much our situation is hurting him.

“But I also see the hard work he is putting in all day, every day of the week and I know that things are being done the right way.

“It doesn’t matter how much preparation is put in, once the game kicks off at 3pm on a Saturday afternoon, any manager is limited in what he can do to influence the result – and the result is everything.

“Gareth has great experience of football at every level. He is working to the best of his ability to turn things around.

“I couldn’t expect any more from him in terms of blood, sweat and tears.

“We can’t put what happens on the pitch fully on Gareth’s shoulders, and that’s why we have to share the workload and the responsibility.

“When things go wrong, people lose faith in the manager. But there is a lot more involved and we must always continue to look at the wider picture before coming to decisions.”