Round: McClaren focused on Boro future

Middlesbrough assistant manager Steve Round insists Steve McClaren is focused on planning next season’s campaign at the Riverside despite the Boro boss being linked with the England job.

McClaren has guided Boro to the semi-finals of the FA Cup and UEFA Cup, putting him in the frame to take over from Sven-Goran Eriksson after the World Cup this summer, with Alan Curbishley and Martin O’Neill also contenders.

However, McClaren’s right-hand man does not believe interest from the Football Association has affected the manager’s long-term vision for the club.

Round said: “His main consideration is trying to win silverware for Middlesbrough and that’s his sole objective and sole agenda.

“He’s very focused on Middlesbrough finishing this season, and starting next season, in great shape. We’re having recruitment meetings every day to discuss next year’s team and the year after that.

“He’s been here five years and we’re always planning for the next stage.”

Rather than having a morning off, McClaren was at Boro’s training ground less than 12 hours after their 4-2 quarter-final replay victory against Charlton as he prepares the club for a congested remainder of the season.

“He’s busy planning the schedule for the next three or four weeks,” Round added.

“We’ve got an incredible schedule and he’s been locked in talks with the chief executive and chairman to plan our travel arrangements and get everything perfect to give us the best chance of winning every game.

“I’ve seen the amount of work Steve McClaren is doing for the football club, even in the morning after the quarter-final.

“All he is focused on and the only agenda on our books is trying to win most of these last games, and especially to win more silverware which would be a tremendous achievement.”

With the possibility of a cup double, Round is unconcerned by success at the club leading to the manager being linked with the biggest job in England.

“The more successful the club becomes, the more games we have to play and the more high-profile everyone becomes at Middlesbrough,” he added. “But that is what we want at the club. That’s where we want to go and that’s our ambition.

“We want to be up there competing for silverware, and it also helps us recruit better players.

"Middlesbrough is now known around Europe and players are saying: ‘I would like to play for Middlesbrough. It’s a club with a great atmosphere and a team trying to win things.’”