Gibson: No plans to sack Southgate

Middlesbrough chairman Steve Gibson insists sacking Gareth Southgate would solve nothing as he attempts to drag the club out of deep relegation trouble.

Gibson gave the under-pressure manager his full backing on Tuesday in the face of mounting frustration over the club's plight.

The Boro chairman told the club's official website: "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."

Gibson added: "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?"

Boro slipped to four points adrift of Barclays Premier League safety as a result of Saturday's 1-0 defeat at fellow strugglers Stoke and remain rooted in 19th place in the table.

They resume after the international break with a trip to Bolton, and then face Hull and Fulham at the Riverside in a series of games which will almost certainly hold the key to their survival hopes.

However, the famously loyal Gibson, who at one point drafted in Terry Venables during the 2000-01 season to help out Bryan Robson as his side lurched towards the trapdoor, remains convinced Southgate is the right man for the job.

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

"When he was a player, he worked immensely hard to make himself a better player. He does exactly the same as a manager. I couldn't expect any more from him in terms of blood, sweat and tears."