According to The Daily Star, Middlesbrough Chairman Steve Gibson is set to announce the club’s new manager by the end of the week.
Middlesbrough have been without a manager since Tony Pulis parted ways with the club three weeks ago. The Welshman was not offered a new contract after failing to secure a top six finish and reach the Play Offs.
Plenty of names have been doing the rounds in recent weeks, with former Fulham boss Slavisa Jokanovic, First Team Coach at Middlesbrough Jonathan Woodgate and Barnsley manager Daniel Stendel the top three candidates for the vacant position.
The report from The Daily Star centres around recently released Middlesbrough winger Stewart Downing, who will wait until a new manager is announced at his home town club before making a decision on his future.
If Woodgate is announced as new Boro boss there is a good chance Downing could re-sign on the dotted line for the Teessiders. The pair are very good friends outside of football, and have a good working relationship, and the article states Woodgate is prepared to offer Downing a new deal if he becomes the man in charge.
Whatever happens at Middlesbrough this week, the new manager will have plenty to do between now and the start of the season.
Plenty of first team players are generating interest from the Premier League, the Championship and from abroad. Whoever is in charge will want the best possible squad at his disposal for the commencement of the season in August, where Boro will be hoping to achieve promotion back to the top tier.
