Derek Whyte (talking to The Sun): “I can understand why Gordon went to Middlesbrough.
“It is a club of tremendous potential but it also has the best chairman in England.
“Steve Gibson is a fair man and he gives his managers a fair crack of the whip. I know that sounds strange after Gareth Southgate being sacked but Steve gave Gareth three years while he gave Bryan Robson seven, and Steve McClaren was there five years.
“The Boro fans are passionate. They live for their team, which is why Gareth Southgate started to find it tough, Bryan Robson too.
“When I played with Boro, we got relegated in 1996-97 but Robson brought us straight back up because Gibson gave him the chance.