Middlesbrough FC

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

• Ground:
• Capacity:NaN

No Boro exit for Wheater

11 Jul 2009 - 11:49:28

Click To Enlarge

Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate has reiterated that, despite the club's relegation to the Championship, David Wheater is not for sale.

The 22-year-old defender has said in the past that he wants to remain on Teesside and is concentrating on his recovery from keyhole surgery.

"David's not for sale," Southgate told the Daily Express. "He and Matthew Bates, who has also committed himself to the club, are the types in terms of quality, hunger and desire that we want.

"We have to build our team around those types of characters. We have to make sure the dressing room stays tight through a period that could involve a lot of speculation.

"We wouldn't welcome bids for David. The key is that he's expressed his desire to stay. The agents that work with him have been very supportive in that and that's been refreshing for us as well.

"One of the next stages is for him to develop his leadership skills. People look at centre-halves and want good communicators. They want guys with physical stature, but who have leadership abilities, and we have to work at that.

"He has shown his ability and, with experience, that leadership will start to emerge."