Source: Daily_Mail
NORTHERN EXPOSURE: Gibson warns of cost of Boro's failed Euro dream
They don't sing his name as much as they used to, but then there's not as many of them at the moment, and Steve Gibson was probably never entirely comfortable being one of the only chairmen to hear such acclaim from his own supporters. [LNB]The halo has slipped a little bit, but then it has been a tense few months on Teesside. [LNB]And as if relegation was not bad enough, after their Championship campaign faltered earlier in the season, attendances at the Riverside have bottomed out to their lowest in more than a decade. [LNB] Rebuilding: David Wheater (left) is among the players left at Middlesbrough as Gordon Strachan remodels the side to push for Premier League promotion[LNB]Even the judgement of the chairman, regarded as one of the best in the country, has been questioned. But he is fighting back. [LNB]Just as he launched a vociferous attack on the government and Labour Party to fight for thousands of Corus workers at Redcar, the very heartbeat of his football club and community, Gibson is ready to see his football club reassert itself. [LNB]'The club was going nowhere fast and we had to stop the rot,' he said this weekend before his side's laboured 1-0 win over Peterborough kept them within two points of the play-offs. [LNB] More from Colin Young... NORTHERN EXPOSURE: Genius like Kevin Phillips is hard to find - but Darren Bent deserves a place at the World Cup 09/02/10 NORTHERN EXPOSURE: The old Bhoys network at Middlesbrough could finally shatter the myth that Celtic could dominate English football 02/02/10 NORTHERN EXPOSURE: Adam Johnson's departure - even for £6m - would be a major blow to a Boro side struggling to keep up with the pace setters28/01/10 NORTHERN EXPOSURE: Southgate stays calm as Gibson sticks the boot in19/01/10 NORTHERN EXPOSURE: Magpies are not counting their chickens just yet15/01/10 NORTHERN EXPOSURE: Expect change at Middlesborough as Gordon Strachan moulds his regime06/01/10 NORTHERN EXPOSURE: Say what you want about Joey Barton, but he has the guts to pose some uncomfortable questions31/12/09 NORTHERN EXPOSURE: Returning Lee Cattermole lifts the clouds over Sunderland for Steve Bruce15/12/09 VIEW FULL ARCHIVE'That is what we have done. You know how tough it is for me when we are losing games and no one is enjoying it. [LNB]'We have to make it a bit brighter, a little bit more entertaining and a little bit more fun.'[LNB] It wasn't supposed to be like this for Middlesbrough and Gibson. It is only a few years since he was lifted shoulder-high by his players on the Millennium Stadium pitch as Boro celebrated their first ever trophy. He didn't look so camera-shy that day and no one begrudged him the glory. [LNB]After that came European football, and some amazing nights and a UEFA Cup Final appearance. That was four years ago, and the dream was to make it a regular occurrence. [LNB]Only it turns out that European campaign, the visits to Italy, Romania, to name a few, and finally Eindhoven, cost the club £12million. [LNB]Read it again. Reaching the UEFA Cup Final cost Middlesbrough £12million. [LNB]With success, Gibson explained this week, came the balancing act of funding improvement, while living within the club's means. Not easy. It is to Gareth Southgate's credit they looked in place to build on his first two seasons. [LNB]But the eventual price of trimming the wage bill and ripping the heart out of the team that was outclassed in Eindhoven by Sevilla was relegation in year three. Few clubs can afford to lose Premier League status and all the riches it brings (to players in particular).[LNB] But Gibson, who this week became the Teesside Patron of the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation, revealed: 'If you go chasing the dream, it has to be achievable. For us, things had to change. [LNB]'We got to a European final and still lost £12 million that year. We studied it and said, 'Football can't continue like this.' Agents' fees, wages, transfers were all inflating at an incredible rate, debts were going up and there was always going to come a day of accountability. We weren't immune to all that.[LNB] Beginning of the end: Then Boro boss Steve McClaren collects his UEFA Cup losers medal in 2006 (above) and (left-right) a distraught Fabio Rochemback, Mark Viduka and Yakubu reflect after defeat to Sevilla in the final (below)[LNB] [LNB] [LNB]'Although we never thought we'd get relegated, every single season we had to plan for relegation and when we were relegated that gave us the best chance of securing financial stability and a long-term future. [LNB]'We weren't tempted to go for promotion at any cost, because the economic consequences of then not going up are quite horrendous. [LNB]'Football has got to learn to say no. All you have to do is visit any football club car park and look at the wealth. But it's not real wealth, it's fabricated wealth and it's come from the ability of very good professionals at the Premier League to negotiate very good television deals. [LNB]'It's made the Premier League perhaps the best and most exciting league in the world, but to sustain that, clubs have paid excessive wages and excessive agents' fees and there doesn't seem to be any balance. There is risk in all businesses and football can't be free of it, but every club has got to run itself within its means.' [LNB] Glory days: Chairman Steve Gibson is held aloft by Juninho and Franck Queudrue as Middlesbrough celebrate winning the Carling Cup in February, 2004[LNB]Over the last week, I have heard Portsmouth fans say they would swap their FA Cup win two years ago for survival. Thankfully, and Middlesbrough fans know this, with Gibson in charge, it is not a question they will ever have to answer. [LNB]Although one of the main questions of the last year has been the handling and timing of Southgate's sacking, the appointment of Gordon Strachan is starting to make sense. [LNB]The play-offs are still within reach, the club just two points off as they chase a third successive win at Blackpool tonight. And don't bet against them taking one of the four places by May. [LNB]Looking good: Strachan side are solid at the back, robust in midfield and have goal-scorers up front[LNB]Middlesbrough are looking a good side with Strachan's many additions. They are solid at the back, more energetic and robust in midfield and he has signed goal-scorers, lots of them, who could surprise a few Championship defenders. [LNB]The brief was immediate promotion but interviews over the weekend subtlely suggested a more serious and realistic challenge next season, which should be well within Strachan's capabilities. [LNB]He is starting to relax, open up, play his part and, from day one, has been frank and honest. For that he certainly cannot be faulted. [LNB]It can't be any coincidence that Strachan is more relaxed, because he is happier with his team and his squad. He has some trusty footsoldiers on board now, with enough influence in the dressing room to get those that want it a place alongside them. [LNB]Cup finals and Europe may take years, even returning the promised land of the Premier League will be an enormous obstacle, but at least Middlesbrough keep the dream alive not just for another day, but for years to come. [LNB]
