STEVE McCLAREN'S close-season link with the then-vacant post at Leeds United, was evidence of his fast-growing reputation in the management stakes.

The kudos of coaching England under Sven-Goran Eriksson and playing a pivotal role in the national side reaching the last eight in this summer's Far East World Cup extravaganza, enhanced McClaren's already impressive CV.

Had former Middlesbrough head coach Terry Venables turned down the Elland Road job, the Teessiders might have lost McClaren after only one season.

The Yorkshireman, who stepped into management after two-and-a-half outstanding years as Sir Alex Ferguson's assistant at Manchester United, is candid about his ambition to take charge of a "top-six'' Premiership club.

But McClaren maintains that he can realise his goal with Boro.

The task is to groom perennial also-rans for thoroughbred status and, after being given the chance to invest almost £20m in the transfer market this summer, he feels his side can narrow the gap on the front-runners.

Having replaced Bryan Robson in the hot-seat last summer, McClaren guided Boro to 12th place following an alarming flirtation with relegation, and led them to an agonising FA Cup semi-final defeat by double-winning Arsenal at Old Trafford.

''Many older and more experienced managers than me have warned me that the second season is harder than the first,'' said McClaren.

"The first season is often a honeymoon period where change, enthusiasm and new energy can lead to over-achievement.

"For the longer term, my ambition is to manage a top-six club that regularly competes for and occasionally wins honours.

"If we continue to build along the right lines and recruit the right quality of players, I believe there is no reason why that can't be achieved at Middlesbrough.

"I have to say that will probably take us a few more years, but I want to leave behind this club's year-on-year battle for survival.

"I want us to play Premiership football looking upwards at the table, not downwards.''

McClaren began his summer spending spree by completing the £2.5m signing of French left-back Frank Queudrue, who had been a success during his seventh-month loan from Lens.

With the blessing of an equally ambitious chairman in Steve Gibson, McClaren then smashed the club transfer record to land Italian international Massimo Maccarone for £8.15m in a desperate attempt to boost his side's poor strike-rate.

And in a frantic period of activity, Boro finally secured Brazilian World Cup winner Juninho's third spell at the Riverside in a £3.8m return from Atletico Madrid, Dutch midfielder George Boateng's arrival from Aston Villa in a £5m deal, and Cameroon international Geremi's season-long loan from Real Madrid.

McClaren has had to clear the decks to make it all possible - over 20 players have moved on since he took control.

The Boro boss stressed: "Last year was twofold.

"It was a case of putting our house in order off the field, reducing the squad, getting the wage bill down and creating openings for players who we believe will improve the squad.

"We've showed that, off the field, we can run this on a business-like basis. All our signings are well within our budget - we haven't broken the bank.

"There were many players linked with us and many we previously tried to negotiate with, but they were beyond our budget.

"However, we're delighted that we've been able to bring in the quality of players we have.

"The chairman has been absolutely fantastic in providing us with the resources to realise his ambition and our ambitions as well.

"Our chief executive Keith Lamb has also worked tirelessly behind the scenes to bring these players to us.

"Last season we built the foundations on the field and got to first base.

"This season we have to move to second base with a damn good team.

"It's a new-look team. They might gel immediately or it might take a while, but we know we'll get there.

"Who knows where we can go? We finished 12th last year and reached an FA Cup semi-final. This year, we're looking to better that.

"We're looking to do that by improving the quality of our football and score more goals.

"There were some great moments last season - the double over Sunderland, beating Manchester United here in the FA Cup and at Old Trafford in the League, and that magical day at the semi-final.

"I accept there were times when we had to win in an ugly way, but there were also times when I think we played some flowing and exciting football.

"Whatever, teams now know they are in for a tough game when they play Middlesbrough.

"We received fantastic support at the semi-final in particular, and we want more days like that."