Strachan tipped to take Southgate’s place at Boro
FORMER Celtic manager Gordon Strachan is the hot favourite to be named Middlesbrough manager following Gareth Southgate’s sacking.
Eyebrows were raised when Boro axed Southgate after Tuesday night’s 2-0 win over Derby, a result that left them just one point off the top of the Championship.
Chairman Steve Gibson yesterday explained that he had decided to dispense with the former England defender before the victory.
“One good result wasn’t going to change that decision,” he said. “Our five home games had brought in seven points. That will not get us promoted – and promotion is the only objective for the season.”
Gibson added: “The timing of Gareth’s sacking was determined a little by the implementation of that strategy.”
Strachan, who quit Celtic in May after winning three league titles in four years, was odds-on to replace Southgate yesterday and many even believe he could even be installed in the next 24 hours.
But Richard Bevan, chief executive of the League Managers Association, has expressed his bewilderment at Southgate’s sacking, saying: “Gareth is a manager learning his trade and Arsene Wenger has said he could be manager of England one day.”