Boro Mania

Gareth Southgate has been relieved of his duties as manager of Middlesbrough Football Club with immediate effect. The decision was announced in the early hours of this morning and came hot on the heels of yesterday's 2-0 victory over Derby County at the Riverside.

The win over Derby ended a run of three straight home defeats in the Championship, and it is this along with falling home attendences - less than 17,500 for the Derby game - that is being rumoured as the contributing factors to Southgate's dismissal.

Speaking to the club's official website, chairman Steve Gibson said:

This has been the most difficult decision I've had to make in all the time I've been in football.

Gareth has given Middlesbrough Football Club magnificent service as a skipper and, in very difficult circumstances, as manager.

I appointed Gareth in a situation that was greatly unfavourable to him.

He is a good man and has all the qualities and integrity that we wanted in a manager.

However, the time is right for change and that change has had to be made.

Gareth will always be welcome at our football club. English football needs people of his stature and we feel certain that this experience will serve him well.

Gareth deserves another opportunity once he has had the chance to rest and refresh himself.

Speculation is going to be rife on who will come in to replace Southgate, with Gordon Strachan's name being strongly mentioned, but you only hope Steve Gibson bides his time and does not rush into an appointment he later comes to regret. You get the feeling that to hold on to players like Adam Johnson (who added to his growing reputation with both goals against Derby) and David Wheater in the January transfer window Boro need to make a statement of intent with appointment of the new manager and go for someone with a bit of a reputation and experience.

I would like to take this opportunity to wish Gareth Southgate luck for the future, he must still be remembered for the fantastic (trophy winning) captain that he was. The timing of his dismissal comes as a shock, coming off the back of a very comfortable victory, but with attendances falling it seemed as if the tide of support had turned against him and it was time for him to make way.

I have absolutely no idea who I would like to see come in, not the biggest Gordon Strachan fan to be honest, I have heard David O'Leary's name mentioned. Maybe we can tempt Mogga from Celtic?