Date: 17-10-2007 Wrote by: EP's reporter Ahmad Matar
Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate claims
he is under no illusions and expects to be sacked should
the club become embroiled in a relegation battle
Former Boro defender Southgate given the job without
any managerial experience, and chairman Steve Gibson
had backed him as the correct man.
But Southgate knows he must do better if he is to remain
at the realm.
"If things were going wrong, I'm sure Steve Gibson
would act as swiftly as he does in his own business,
but he is realistic," he told the Middlesbrough
Gazette.
"He doesn't expect us to be a Champions League
team in 18 months. That gives you time to plan and get
your head above the water.
"Last year was fire-fighting, trying to fix things
as I went along. Only towards the end of the season
was it possible to plan ahead.
"I've got more belief in myself now. And the one
thing I know here is that no-one inside the club is
against me. The whole club is very much united.
"It was brave of him to appoint a novice and I
am still grateful. It's a strength for us that we have
a chairman who comes from the town and who wants to
give something back."
In England, Gareth Southgate has been praised for his
ambitious signings, of foreigners like Mido and Tuncay
who are perhaps bigger than the club's expected players.
But the performances and results have been mediocre
and time may be running out for Southgate as the club
is not progressing.
EP will keep you updated...
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