After taking Bryan Robson's job as Boro manager, Steve McLaren has now moved into his old home.

Steve's house hunting wife Catherine was being shown around the five-bedroom mansion near Aislaby, Yarm, last year when agents let slip her husband's predecessor had been its last occupant.

The mum of three had already fallen in love with the place close to the North Yorkshire Moors with its views overlooking Yarm.

And yesterday it was confirmed that the couple had bought the red-brick home with its several reception and bathrooms.

Bryan Robson bought the impressive country manor for almost £500,000 in 1999. He lived there with his wife and three children until his job at Middlesbrough came to an end last year.

The luxury home is set in an acre of its own land and has four bathrooms, three reception rooms, a dressing room and a study. It even has it's own bar.

Until the Robsons splashed out, Bryan had commuted from his home in Cheshire, often staying in hotels.

Two years ago the Robsons applied for planning permission to add a tennis court to the already luxurious property.

But their plans were dashed when Stockton Borough Council threw out the application. Planning permission was refused because it would have contravened local restrictions on developments in open countryside.

Local people also complained that the tennis courts would have been out of character. Steve McLaren told friends that he didn't have the faintest idea that he was considering Bryan Robson's old home.

"It was a complete coincidence that Steve's wife should hit upon this property," said a spokesman close to the property deal.

Soccer legend Robbo is believed to have moved back to his original Cheshire home with his wife Denise. Once again he is travelling to Manchester after being called upon by former boss Alex Ferguson to help coach Man United.

He quit the Boro by "mutual consent", after seven years at the club, his mind being made up by the boos and jeers he received following his last game of the season with the Boro against West Ham.