DERBY County first-team coach Steve Round is expected to agree to join Steve McClaren's Middlesbrough revolution next week.

Round, who forged close links with McClaren when Boro's new boss was assistant to Jim Smith at Derby, is currently attending a coaching clinic in the United States.

But a Pride Park insider revealed: "Steve McClaren has spoken to Round and the feeling is he will join him at Middlesbrough.''

Boro's backroom shake-up continued unabated yesterday when reserve-team coach David Geddis became the fifth and most surprising casualty since McClaren was appointed.

Geddis followed head coach Terry Venables, manager Bryan Robson, assistant boss Viv Anderson and first-team coach Gordon McQueen through the Riverside exit.

Former Ipswich, Aston Villa and Darlington striker Geddis had been with Boro for a decade, working on the club's football in the community scheme before becoming youth then reserve-team coach.

As Geddis cleared his desk, Boro admitted they had approached Aston Villa for No 2 Steve Harrison and goalkeeping coach Paul Barron.

Sports psychologist Bill Beswick, who has been part of the England set-up, has already been on site at Boro's Rockliffe Park training base and his appointment to McClaren's staff should be confirmed soon.

Geddis's departure seems certain to create a further coaching opening, and Manchester United's Denis Irwin could fit the bill.

As revealed in Northern Echo Sport last month, the United full-back is in line for a move to Teesside, possibly as a player-coach.

Irwin is mulling over the offer of a new one-year deal at Old Trafford, but said: "Steve McClaren is one of the best coaches in England and I know he's going to do a fantastic job at the Riverside.

"I got to know and admire the quality of his work with United.''

Meanwhile, former United assistant boss McClaren could launch another Ram-raid for England midfielder Seth Johnson.

McClaren, also linked with Derby striker Malcolm Christie and utility man Rory Delap, could face competition from Glasgow Rangers for £7m-rated Johnson.

l Boro have scrapped their mini-tour of the West Country.

The pre-season games with Exeter, scheduled for Friday, July 20 and Devon County FA (Sunday, July 22) have been cancelled.

Boro's plans were hit when Devon County FA called their game off because of pitch problems.

Faced with a long journey for only one game, Boro decided to abandon the Exeter match.

The friendlies at Scarborough on Wednesday, July 25 and Mansfield (Saturday, July 28) go ahead as planned and Boro are hoping to arrange further games.