Middlesbrough Football Club News

• Nickname:Boro
• Founded:1876
• Manager:Tony Mowbray

• Ground:Riverside Stadium
• Capacity:35,049

Boro upbeat over Downing

14 Feb 2008 - 18:04:45

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Middlesbrough chief executive Keith Lamb claims the club are confident of keeping hold of Stewart Downing.

Downing's future on Teesside has been brought into question in recent months with the England winger's agent claiming he is unlikely to sign a new contract at the Riverside.

But Lamb believes the 23-year-old wideman will pledge his long-term future to the club and sign a new contract.

Downing had been linked with a £10million move to Tottenham during the January transfer window.

"I am very confident that we will reach agreement sooner rather than later," he claimed.

"It is something that myself and (chairman) Steve Gibson have been very conscious of and have been working at over the last couple of weeks.

"I would not like to put a date on it, but I would hope that within the next four to six weeks we will get a solution to it that's acceptable to Stewart and to the football club.

"Then we can put it to bed and Stewart can concentrate on playing his football."