Gibson preparing to sell Middlesbrough as chairman plots move to tax haven

Open to offers: GibsonMiddlesbrough chairman Steve Gibson's decision to move to Guernsey could see the Teesside club put up for sale.The lifelong Boro fan, who formed the consortium which rescued the club from liquidation in 1986, is set to become a tax exile on the Channel Island and will be restricted to 90 days residency in the UK.This will scupper his chances of continuing as chairman, a post he has held since 1994. The Sunday Express claim Gibson has underwritten the club's current debts - to the tune of £70million - and that he will stand aside if a new buyer can be found. Known to back his managers to the hilt, Gibson's cash twice brought pocket-sized Brazilian Juninho to the Riverside, with Boro winning the Carling Cup in 2004 and finishing runnerts up in the UEFA Cup to Seville two years later.Last season Gibson saw current boss Gareth Southgate steer the club to relegation from the Premier League, ending an 11-year-stint in the top flight. Boro insist on Wheater stay despite proposed £6m Harewood swapFulham move for £4m Middlesbrough midfielder Gary O'NeilMIDDLESBROUGH FC

Source: Daily_Mail