THE crisis at Middlesbrough Football Club deepened last night after news that internationally respected coach Terry Venables will not become its new manager.

Former England boss Venables had been talking to Boro over a move which would have seen him take over as head coach from current boss Bryan Robson, who would become his assistant.

However, after several days of negotiations with chairman Steve Gibson, the club announced yesterday that Venables' television punditry commitments meant the move could not go ahead.

Boro chief executive Keith Lamb said Venables' present and future television commitments were incompatible with the role being offered at Middlesbrough - a role reputed to be worth £5m over two years.

The club sent a message to fans that everyone at Middlesbrough would continue to focus on stabilising their Premier League position.

It seemed last night that beleaguered boss Robson will remain in charge of the team, which is in the midst of a poor run of results that has seen it dragged into the relegation battle.

Robson himself had said before yesterday's announcement: "If he doesn't take a position here, I would be in charge until the end of the season."

Television station ITV is keen to increase Venables' involvement as a pundit after wresting the rights to broadcast highlights from the Premiership next season from the BBC.

Venables also has a Virgin Radio show and a regular national newspaper column, as well as other business interests, including the development of a major football complex in Spain.

It is also believed the Londoner was not keen to uproot to the North-East, which could have caused problems because Boro were demanding a hands-on approach from the new boss.

Last month, Venables emerged as the overwhelming favourite among England supporters to return as national team coach. He lost out to Swede Sven Goran Eriksson.

Ted Buxton, part of Venables' backroom staff at England, Tottenham and Crystal Palace, said: "It would have been a massive job but obviously there are things there that weren't right for him, and he didn't feel it was the right time to go.

"I think he would have liked to have been able to do the two jobs, but obviously that wouldn't have been right for Middlesbrough or Terry."

Geoff Vickers, secretary of the Middlesbrough Supporters South group, said: "I'm not too upset that we haven't got Venables. I don't think he's right for the North-East.

"But what I'm not happy about is the way the club's been left in the lurch."

David Buckton, chairman of Middlesbrough Official Supporters Club, said: "Bryan Robson has all of the managerial qualities we need as a manager - at the moment, it's the coaching side of things that we need to sort out."

Bookmakers refused to lay odds on a successor to Bryan Robson. John Cooper, of Stanley Racing, which has shops in Darlington and Bishop Auckland, said: "To lay odds at this stage would be seen to be kicking a man while he is down."

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