Middlesbrough sack Southgate

Middlesbrough has fired manager Gareth Southgate. The Championship club decided to sack their coach after he lost three home games in a row. Boro actually won on Tuesday against Derby County (2-0) but it couldn`t prevent Southgate`s dismissal.

Southgate has been in charge of Middlesbrough for over three years after taking over in the summer of 2006 from Steve McClaren – who left to take charge of England.

`This has been the most difficult decision I’ve had to make in all the time I’ve been in football,` said chairman Steve Gibson.

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

`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,` Gibson added.

According to Sky Sports, former Celtic boss Gordon Strachan is emerging as one of the favourites to take charge, whilst the likes of Kevin Keegan, David O’Leary, Alan Curbishley and Boro legend Graeme Souness have also been mentioned.