-Boro a full-time job' -

Only days after skipper Paul Ince told Venables to dismiss any thoughts of a bit-part role at the Riverside, Boro's head coach nailed suggestions that he could take charge next season on a three-day week.

Victory against relegated Bradford tomorrow at Valley Parade will see Venables complete his five-month mission to rescue Boro from the drop.

Then he must decide whether his future lies on Teesside, with ITV - or elsewhere.

Spanish giants Valencia have Venables in their sights as they seek a successor for Parma-bound coach Hector Cuper.

Venables, in his role as senior analyst with ITV, was at Elland Road on Wednesday night to see Valencia's goalless Champions' League semi-final first leg against Leeds.

But Boro chairman Steve Gibson wants Venables to continue working in tandem with manager Bryan Robson, who turned to the former England boss for urgent assistance when the threat of relegation reared its ugly head.

Venables refuses to discuss his plans until Premership safety is assured.

But while he has made it plain that it's all or nothing if he is to remain at the helm, Venables appears to have left open the option of taking up a consultancy role with Boro.

"If I carried on in the capacity I am in now, there is no way that could be a part-time job,'' declared Venables. "I've never treated it that way and I wouldn't.

"It's an insult to treat it that way. I've spoken to the chairman and out of that came the fact that we wouldn't speak about things until the end of the season.

"It's been suggested that we've been thinking about me working two, three or four days a week.

"But I'm big enough to know that's not possible. I wouldn't even contemplate it and I'm sure the club wouldn't contemplate it either. We've not discussed it. It's far too serious a job for that.''

It was reported this week that Venables had recommended his old friend, former Spurs boss George Graham, for the Boro job if he decided to move on.

But Venables maintained: "We've not discussed who might come in if I didn't stay.

"The clear thing was I was here until the end of the season and that's the road we're going down.

"The club haven't asked me and I haven't recommended anybody. To say I have is wrong.''

Boro have lined up the arrival of Slovakia striker Szilard Nemeth from Inter Bratislava, and Venables confirmed: "I've been fully involved in the planning for next season.

"I've recommended who to sign and who not to sign. It doesn't necessarily mean they'll take notice of me, but it's part of a head coach's job anyway.

"As far as I'm concerned, the idea of coming here was to help Bryan. I don't think his future here has been in doubt, but I don't think me coming did it any harm.

"I've enjoyed it here - it's been fantastic. I'm delighted I came and the club have done me a big favour to let me have the opportunity.''

Venables also dismissed reports that ITV had issued him with a three-week deadline to decide whether he would still be fronting their new Saturday night highlights programme next season with Des Lynam.

"I saw Brian Barwick (head of ITV sport) on Wednesday and he assured me there was never any three-week ultimatum,'' said Venables. "They've left me alone to get on with things here.

"I've got a huge decision to make, but it's one I've put on the back-burner because I don't think it's helpful to what we're trying to do here.''

Ince has led dressing-room calls for Venables to stick with Boro. "It's very nice for the players to say they want me to stay,'' said Venables. "I hold the players in high regard.

"Coming here was a challenge I chewed over greatly. I'm glad I've done it but until I've done what I set out to achieve, I can't discuss what comes next.''

l Venables yesterday called for the government and the FA to work in partnership to sort out the Wembley fiasco.

Plans to redevelop the Venue of Legends and create a new national stadium have foundered through a lack of funding.

Venables said: "I feel we made a pledge to build a new stadium and I think the government and the FA should get together to make sure something is done.

"Football is a big vote winner and it's always been the drug for the masses. It's vitally important that the finances go into the game at grass-roots level, but also into a stadium.

"I always believe private money would want to go into a new stadium, but I don't think it should come to that. The argument is where it should be built - the midlands or London or wherever.

"I just believe it would be good to have our own stadium. If it won't work financially, I feel we should have known that in the first place.''