No shortage of interest as Strachan walks away from Middlesbrough

Middlesbrough chairman Steve Gibson was today launching his search for a new manager after Gordon Strachan tore up his contract with the struggling club.

Gibson claimed his telephone was ringing off the hook once it emerged that Strachan's stay at the Riverside Stadium was coming to an end last night.

The 53-year-old Scot, who succeeded Gareth Southgate last year, offered his resignation and chose to walk away without compensation after a spell on Teesside which brought only 13 victories in 46 attempts. Strachan's demise was confirmed at around 6.00pm, although it was clear his departure was inevitable earlier in the day with the manager having cancelled his pre-match press conference ahead of tonight's npower Championship trip to Nottingham Forest, ostensibly because of illness He had met Gibson earlier in the day and had his resignation accepted, and coaches Steve Agnew and Mark Proctor will be in temporary charge.

Gibson, a fan himself, promised he would do all within his power to forge a recovery at a club which barely four years ago played in the UEFA Cup final. He said: "It would be dis- honest to say I have enjoyed the last two or three years - I am a Middlesbrough fan, it has been bloody awful."

Names being linked as a replacement include former Middlesbrough favourite Tony Mowbray, Paul Ince, Paul Jewell and Alan Curbishley.