Soccer: Robbo got raw deal - O'Neill

Irish international and Middlesbrough winger Keith O’Neill felt Bryan Robson had been given a "raw deal" by the fans.

O'Neill was brought to the Riverside by Robson in a £700,000 deal from Norwich in March 1999 and maintained that everyone in the club was bitterly disappointed to lose the former England skipper.

"I find it quite sad," he said. "One man who really cared was Bryan Robson - he proved that by bringing in Terry Venables and had the football club’s interests at heart.

"He got a raw deal from fans and had seven great years here. Sure, there were ups and downs - but to leave like this under a cloud, it is not right.

"Ninety-nine percent of people directly associated with Middlesbrough Football Club are going to be disappointed - people on the outside don’t see directly what’s happening and the people who really care."

O’Neill also refuted suggestions that Robson had lost control of the dressing room before he was moved aside following Venables’ arrival, but felt the club would move forward if - as expected - Steve McClaren came in.

He said: "The club’s in safe hands with Steve McClaren coming in. He’s a fantastic coach and has been working with some of the best players in the world, so (the future) is looking good."

The Dublin-born forward also felt that Robson would not be out of the game for too long.

He said: "He won’t be short of offers. There will be many a club trying to snap him up."