Premiership: McClaren in Robbo tribute

New Middlesbrough boss Steve McClaren has paid tribute to predecessor Bryan Robson - despite helping to ensure there would be no room for the Riverside’s former manager in the club’s new regime.

Robson stepped down last week after seven years in charge, claiming the jeering of the Boro supporters at the final home game of last season was a determining factor in his decision to leave on amicable terms.

McClaren, who yesterday signed a five-year contract believed to be worth £8m, had already informed chairman Steve Gibson he wanted to be his own man and with his own backroom team behind him.

The 40-year-old, who is due to announce over the next few weeks those he hopes will help him bring success back to Middlesbrough, acted on the advice of Alex Ferguson and Jim Smith.

McClaren had learnt, having served as assistant to Smith at Derby and then Ferguson at Manchester United, the best policy would be for a new broom to sweep clean.

As McClaren stated, it is now "a new era" at Middlesbrough, although recognised the achievements of Robson in raising the profile of the club, not only domestically but also overseas.

"I feel tremendously excited about following Bryan," stated McClaren. "He had seven years here and brought great success.

"He was really instrumental in giving Middlesbrough Football Club a high profile, not just in the Premier League, but also world football. You cannot dismiss that.

"I’ve not spoken to him yet, but I do intend to. I have the greatest respect for him, not just as a player because having been at Manchester United his name was mentioned every day, but also what he has achieved here at Middlesbrough.

"I mean that sincerely because Middlesbrough is now high profile throughout the world purely because of Bryan Robson.

"But there were certain things required to come here, and the club have dealt with that. It was a case of then going away and coming back and everything is in place for me to sign.

"My initial thoughts going into management, and from the other managers I’ve worked with, is that the staff and people around you are the most important.

"So I thought that if I did go into management, the one thing I would stress is that I’d need the best people around me and the best support off the field which can only help the players on the field."

Support will certainly come financially from chairman Steve Gibson, the key element in McClaren’s decision to leave Old Trafford with a year remaining on his contract and take the next step up in his career by becoming a manager.

It was an 11th hour bid from Boro which prevented McClaren from joining either West Ham or Southampton, with the former Hull City, Derby, Bristol City and Oxford player on the brink of making a decision before Gibson stepped in.

With McClaren admitting to "whispers" throughout Old Trafford telling him he would not be Ferguson’s successor when the Scot finally steps down at the end of next season after a glorious reign, he decided Middlesbrough provided him with the best stage on which to try his managerial hand.

Although conceding leaving Manchester United was the hardest decision he has had to make in his career, the persuasive powers of Gibson ensured it was an easy choice to join Middlesbrough.

"Someone once said to me that the most important relationship in a football club is between a manager and the chairman," added McClaren, who has been given permission by Gibson to again pursue his role as an England coach under Sven-Goran Eriksson.

"When I sought advice from various people in football and I mentioned the name of Steve Gibson, I realised it was held in high esteem as one of the best around. So Steve was 99% of the icing on the cake for me.

"I am confident that along with (chief executive) Keith Lamb, we can bring the success here that the fans have been crying out for in the last couple of years."