Source: Telegraph
Sacking Gareth Southgate 'not magic wand' says Middlesbrough's Steve Gibson
The club owner is determined to stand by the former England and Boro defender even though the Teesside outfit are deep in relegation trouble.
"I've spoken with a lot of fans over the last few weeks and they ask me about Gareth Southgate," said Gibson.
Related ArticlesSouthgate admits Boro's patience may wear thinNorth east giants in danger of heading southTransfer Talk: Middlebroughs 2008/9 prospectsMiddlesbrough midfielder Stewart Downing ends Tottenham talkPremier League Round-up: Bolton beat Spurs, Arsenal are held by West HamMiddlesbrough relegation worries deepen as Steve Gibson keeps coffers at bay"But the magic wand in our situation isn't sacking Gareth Southgate. Of course everybody has their opinion in football and I understand the frustration of the fans.
"I've always said that we have a knowledgeable crowd at Middlesbrough and you have to respect that.
"I take on board the views of the fans because I care as much as they do.
"But if I was to sack Gareth Southgate at this stage, how would it help the situation?" Gibson added: "The one thing I know is that Gareth Southgate is hurting as well. I see him on a regular basis and I know how much our situation is hurting him.
"But I also see the hard work he is putting in all day, every day of the week and I know that things are being done the right way.
"The real work is done on the training ground during the week. It doesn't matter how much preparation is put in, once the game kicks off at 3pm on a Saturday afternoon any manager is limited in what he can do to influence the result. And the result is everything." Gibson handed Southgate the reins in 2006 after Steve McClaren left the Riverside to take over the England job.
"Gareth has great experience of football at every level. He is working to the best of his ability to turn things around," Gibson said.
"When he was a player, he worked immensely hard to make himself a better player. He does exactly the same as a manager.
"I couldn't expect any more from him in terms of blood, sweat and tears. We can't put what happens on the pitch fully on Gareth's shoulders and that's why we have to share the workload and the responsibility.
"When things go wrong, people lose faith in the manager. But there is a lot more involved and we must always continue to look at the wider picture before coming to decisions."
