STEVE McClaren officially stepped into the hotseat at the Riverside yesterday and heralded a new era of football thinking at Middlesbrough.

Exactly a week after Steve Gibson announced the end of Bryan Robson's seven-year association with the club, it was left to chief executive Keith Lamb to reveal the worst kept secret on Teesside.

The sombre mood of a week ago was replaced by a more positive outlook, with McClaren expected to bring with him coaching techniques more attuned to the European game.

McClaren - who has signed a five year contract worth an estimated £8m - is a keen student of football, and his regime is expected to be far different to Robson's. One of his first appointments will be sports psychologist Bill Beswick.

Far more surprising than McClaren's appointment yesterday, was Lamb's confirmation that Boro would have no problem with the new boss combining his new post with his coaching role in the England set-up.

After introducing the 40-year-old former assistant to Sir Alex Ferguson to the awaiting media, Lamb said: "I have already spoken to Adam Crozier about Steve's position and I have granted permission to take Steve on England duty in some capacity.

"We regard it as a honour for Steve and for the club."

McClaren himself was quick to praise the role Robson had played in turning Boro into the club it is today, and said he would be among the first people he would speak to in the coming weeks.

He said: "I have not spoken to Bryan yet but I intend to as soon as I can. He has brought great success to Middlesbrough Football Club and I am just happy to continue the good work that has been done."

Lamb and Gibson's motives on McClaren's England role are undoubtedly selfish, but clearly sensible.

In Robson the club had the star name who attracted world class players to the Riverside.

McClaren - without doubt a gamble by Gibson - still has to earn his spurs as a manager, and establish himself as a name in world football.

Both McClaren and Gibson know if he is seen on the international circuit with England, and more importantly a successful England team, he will increase Boro's pulling power amongst world-class players.

McClaren was making all the right noises about his priorities, which are undoubtedly with Boro, but the club's willingness to allow him to continue his England role was a powerful bargaining tool for Gibson and Lamb.

McClaren said: "To experience what I have with Sven has been nothing but good for me. To be involved with England is good for the club's profile and good for my profile.

"We want to bring good players here and the higher the profile the better."

But the former number two to Sir Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford was more concerned with the massive job he faces on Teesside. "My only priority now is to get Middlesbrough Football Club successful again."

McClaren decided that his future lay away from Old Trafford after recent events concerning Sir Alex's future role.

The decison by the United board to ignore Sir Alex's advice that McClaren was his natural successor at Old Trafford made the decision to accept Boro's offer a lot easier.

McClaren, said his departure from Manchester United was the 'hardest decision' of his career.

Gibson and Lamb have continued negotiations with McClaren for three weeks, turning the former number two at Derby's Florida break into a working holiday.

Along with Beswick, McClaren is expected to bring in Aston Villa duo Steve Harrison and Paul Barron to form his backroom team. Manchester United defender Denis Irwin is also in the frame to move.

The new boss believes he has inherited a 'very good squad' with 'world class players', but his work will start immediately on building what he considers his own team.

Boro have a solid backbone to the squad, but McClaren will have to persuade the likes of Alen Boksic, Paul Okon, Ugo Ehiogu and Mark Schwarzer that Boro's future is in safe hands.

He spending power will be boosted to the tune of around £20m, along with whatever he receives from the sale of players who will leave the Riverside in the next two months.

"In next two weeks, I will be assessing the present squad," said McClaren. "I have already been linked with around a thousand players.

"You just have to sit down and look at that speculation and throw 99 per cent of it out of the window"

After speaking to both Southampton and West Ham, Boro's late intervention, and a far bigger budget, made McClaren's decision easier.

The realisation that his spending power would probably be greater than the combined transfer kitty's of the other two clubs, and the fact the York-born boss could stay in the North probably helped him decide that his future lay on Teesside.

He said: "Once Boro came in at the 11th hour, and I spoke with the chairman and found out their ambitions it excited me. I could not wish to be joining a better club.

"Steve Gibson's enthusiasm impressed me. You have to be enthusiastic about the job and he is.

"When I sought advice from various people in football Steve Gibson was held in the highest esteem."

McClaren also indicated the lure of building a successful team was a persuasive factor.

He said: "The one thing I have learned at United is that when you win one trophy it is quickly forgotten and you get on. It will be the same here. This is a tremendous experience. I worked with a fantastic manager in Sir Alex Ferguson and great players. But it is history.