189/1 Southgate Gets Boro Job

By Dave Tindall
June 12 2006

New Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate was backed at a massive 189/1 on Betfair to get the job. The former England defender was unveiled as Steve McClaren's successor at a press conference on Wednesday.

Bet Live Now £25 in free bets with totalbet.com



Terry Venables had looked earmarked for the job at one stage and traded as low as 1.4 (2/5) before ruling himself out.

Martin O'Neill was also backed at odds-on (1.91) as punters believed chairman Steve Gibson would go for an experienced man.

Gibson also held talks with ex-Charlton boss Alan Curbishley but, to the delight of those who took a risk on Southgate, it was the 35-year-old central defender who got the nod.

Southgate had seemed an unlikely candidate due to him not having the required UEFA Pro Licence.

But Boro argued Southgate had been unable to acquire all his coaching qualifications because of his playing career.

Boro chief executive Keith Lamb told the club's official website, www.mfc.co.uk: "Middlesbrough and Gareth should not suffer because he has had such a successful career at club and international level.

"Until recently Gareth has spent his summers serving his country as a player. It makes little sense such players should be denied rare opportunities like the one he now has simply because he hasn't had the chance to gain the qualifications."

Bet Live Now £25 in free bets with totalbet.com



By Bettingzone.co.uk
Used with permission.