Source: Daily_Mail
Southgate still stands by decision to let Cattermole leave Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate has defended the club's decision to sell Lee Cattermole to Wigan last year.
The combative midfielder, now 21, headed for the JJB Stadium in a £3.5million move in July 2008, and has since followed Steve Bruce to Sunderland for £6m.
Many fans have cited the departure of the academy graduate and experienced Dutchman George Boateng as a major factor in the club's relegation from the Barclays Premier League.
However, Southgate insists Cattermole alone would not have kept the Teessiders in the top flight.
He told the Evening Gazette: 'Hindsight shows that Lee would have played a lot more football than was anticipated because of all the injuries we suffered.
'There is no question he had a very good season at Wigan, but sometimes a player makes that kind of progress when he moves clubs.
'Lee had decided he wanted to move away from the area. We were not looking to sell, but Lee had been pushing for it for some time when we got the fee then it made good business sense at the time.
'Of course, things look different after the event, but one player doesn't keep you in the Premier division, or any division.'
