Middlesbrough chief executive Keith Lamb yesterday confirmed for the first time that Terry Venables' six-month association with the club had come to end with the appointment of Steve McClaren.

Venables arrived in December last year after answering an SOS from his friend and former colleague in the England set-up, Bryan Robson, with Boro anchored to the bottom of the Premiership.

His impact was immediate with the team climbing the league, as they put together a 12-match unbeaten run.

But after he confirmed to chairman Steve Gibson and Lamb last month he would be unable to continue to combine his TV work and a Riverside role, Boro moved for Steve McClaren.

Lamb said: "With his media commitments, Terry informed us he was unable to combine his TV role with his work for Middlesbrough Football Club.

"After that we made our move for Steve. He was our first choice and when we realised he was talking to West Ham and Southampton we had to move fast.

"But when we spoke to him it didn't take him long to decide that he wanted to come here."

Lamb said he had spoken to Derby boss Jim Smith about McClaren on previous occasions, and again when the former Boro number two and Newcastle United boss attended the funeral of Middlesbrough coach John Pickering earlier this month.

Lamb added: "We had already spoke to many people in the game about McClaren, and we spoke to Jim (Smith) again this month.

"We're just pleased to have Steve on board."