PAUL OKON is convinced the lure of a big-club offer from Europe is the only threat to Middlesbrough's hopes of holding on to Terry Venables.

Australia skipper Okon, a member of his national squad when Venables was in charge of the Socceroos, believes Boro's head coach will spurn a lucrative role with ITV next season, rather than walk away from Teesside.

But with Spanish giants Valencia having made former England boss Venables their No 1 choice to succeed coach Hector Cuper, and La Liga rivals Barcelona reported to be keen to take El Tel back to the Nou Camp, Okon has warned Boro they could have a fight on their hands.

"I think Terry will stay - unless he gets an opportunity to go elsewhere,'' said Okon, who is in his first season with Boro after arriving from Fiorentina on a Bosman free last summer.

"There are big clubs in Europe looking for managers and plenty would love to have Terry Venables.

"It's only natural a man of his stature will have offers to manage elsewhere. I've played in Europe and I know how well respected he is.

"He's already been linked with Valencia and a few days ago I heard talk of Barcelona.

"If he does decide to continue in football, Middlesbrough will have stiff opposition.

"If you go by his body language, it seems to me he has been bitten by the coaching bug again and will be much happier doing that than being on television.

"I know he has enjoyed himself here and if we stay up, it's a big incentive.

"But it's a tough job for the chairman (Steve Gibson) to persuade him.''

Venables, brought in to steer Boro clear of relegation, is still trying to complete that particular manoeuvre with only two games to go this season.

And anxious ITV chiefs have issued him with a three-week ultimatum to decide where his future lies.

Okon, outstanding for Boro of late in a sweeper's role, added: "We've had opportunities to be safe already and have other things sorted out as well, but no-one knows what's going to happen.

"It won't be difficult to hold on to our players - I have no ambition to go elsewhere and neither have Alen Boksic and Christian Karembeu.

"If we stay up, we'll celebrate. There'll be a party because of all the effort we've put in over the last four or five months. It's been fantastic.''