Championship / Mike O’Donnell / 21 October 2009 / Leave a comment

Middlesbrough have sacked manager Gareth Southgate despite sitting fourth in the Championship. Chairman Steve Gibson blamed falling attendances at the Riverside for his decision.

Steve Gibson: “This has been the most difficult decision in football I’ve ever had to make.”

This shock dismissal came just hours after Middlebrough's 2-0 victory over Derby on Tuesday night with Boro being just one point of the league leaders Newcastle. This morning, Gibson admitted: "This has been the most difficult decision in football I've ever had to make."

Southgate took over the role of manager when Steve Mclaren left to head up the England side after guiding Boro to the UEFA Cup Final in 2006. The former England defender was Boro captain at the time.

"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," added Gibson.

In Southgate's first two seasons in charge at Riverside, Boro finished 12th and 13th in the Premier League as well as reaching the FA Cup quarter-finals in three successive seasons. Southgate also broke the club's record transfer fee, when he acquired Alfonso Alves in the 2007-2008 season for £12 million.

However on the last day of the 2008-2009 season, Middlesbrough were relegated after 11 consecutive seasons in the Premier League and this led to many big names heading for the exits including Stuart Downing, Robert Huth and Alves.

As well as Southgate, Gibson has also released Southgate's former manager at Crystal Palace, Alan Smith, who had been appointed as Football Consultant in a behind the scenes role.

Many names have already been mentioned in relation to the vacancy at Riverside including Gordon Strachan, Nigel Pearson, David O'Leary and Boro favourite Graeme Souness.

Gibson is expected to move quickly in the appointment of a new manager who will be challenged with guiding Boro back to the Premier League. Middlesbrough are currently trading at [3.0] on Betfair to be promoted this season and at [7.2] to win the Championship.

Tags: championship, David O'Leary, Gareth Southgae, Gordon Strachan, Graeme Souness, Middlebrough, Nigel Pearson, Steve Gibson