MIDDLESBROUGH boss Steve McClaren has admitted he may be forced to fork out compensation to Inter Bratislava for £3m-rated striker Szilard Nemeth.

The 23-year-old Slovakia international was a free agent when he joined Boro at the start of the month after signing a pre-contract agreement in April under the Riverside's previous managerial regime of Bryan Robson and Terry Venables.

But the FA have confirmed that, because Nemeth is a non-European Union national, the terms of the Bosman ruling on free transfers do not apply and as things stand Boro are liable to pay a fee or compensation which is fixed by an independent tribunal if the clubs fail to reach an agreement.

However, Boro are waiting for a directive from FIFA following a conference in Buenos Aires where new rules on the transfer system have been formulated.

McClaren explained: "We're awaiting intstructions because there's been a recent FIFA meeting. We're waiting for the conclusions of that before we actually know whether we pay a small amount of compensation.''

Nemeth won't be seen in action for around six weeks after undergoing a hernia operation necessitated by an injury he picked up while on international duty last month.

Meanwhile, McClaren has made it clear that every squad member will be given a fair crack of the whip as he maps out the way ahead for the Teessiders.

The former Manchester United No 2 made his first signing this week with the £6.5m capture of England defender Gareth Southgate from Aston Villa, and hopes to follow up that deal by landing Bordeaux right-back Francois Grenet.

McClaren stressed: "We're always looking for quality players who will improve the squad and if they become available we've got to be in the market for them.

"But from day one, we've stated to the players here that they start with an A+ and a clean sheet of paper. It's up to them whether they stay at A+ or drop to a D or an E.

"We know what it takes to create the work ethic we want. We've just said to the players: Come and buy it.

"The timescale for success ultimately depends, not just on our ambitions, but the players' ambitions and how quickly they accept the changes and adapt.

"It's a case of getting everyone's ambitions to match up and that will dictate whether we move forward quickly or whether it takes a bit longer.''

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