TERRY VENABLES is today hoping to confirm that he is taking charge of crisis club Middlesbrough.

Venables spent most of yesterday locked in talks with ITV bosses over how the move to the Riverside Stadium would affect his commitments as an on-screen pundit.

It was understood that the 57-year-old former England boss was also heading for a further round of negotiations with Boro officials after agreeing in principle to succeed Bryan Robson as manager.

The plan is for the under-fire Robson, who has been in the Boro hot-seat for six-and-a-half years, to step down to first-team coaching duties and reprise the role he performed as Venables' right-hand man with England during Euro '96.

Third-bottom Boro are facing a fight against relegation after losing six of their last seven Premiership games and picking up only 11 points out of a possible 45 this season.

Chairman Steve Gibson is believed to have offered Venables a £1m-plus-a-year contract to carry out the rescue mission.

But Venables' extensive media and business interests have proved potential stumbling blocks.

Northern Echo Sport revealed on Saturday that Boro wanted Venables to take over from Robson.

And Venables said yesterday: "The thing is under pressure because it got out in the press, which happens.

"I'm trying to sort out problems I said from day one I would have, owing to the fact that I'm not in the game at the moment. I have got other contracts to sort out and that's what I'm endeavouring to do.''

Venables is lined up to work alongside Des Lynam when ITV launch their new "match of the day" programme next season.

But he is also heavily involved in the development of a major football complex in Spain, where he once managed Barcelona, and is contracted to Virgin Radio to host a Saturday afternoon phone-in.

Boro skipper Paul Ince, who played under Venables when he was in charge of England, yesterday admitted he would welcome his appointment.

He said: "Terry is a great man-manager. In fact he is the best I have worked with.

"The Venables-Robson partnership was fantastic during Euro '96. They have proved they can work together at the very highest level.''

l Boro have offered a two-week trial to Polish youth international striker Pawel Abbott.

The 18-year-old, who plays for LKS Lodz, has an English father and was brought up in York before moving to Poland when he was 11.

l Boro's youth team last night beat Kidderminster 4-1 in the third round of the FA Youth Cup.

l Shaun Goater grabbed the late goal that sent Manchester City into the last eight of the Worthington Cup at the expense of Wimbleond.

City now face Ipswich in the quarter-finals and were given a timely boost to their sagging confidence after five successive Premiership defeats.

Goater hit a post, saw a string of second-half efforts go close and finally netted the clincher with a fine overhead hook that broke Wimbledon's brave resistance.

Although the big Bermudan got the winner in a match his team increasingly dominated, it was little Shaun Wright-Phillips who produced the performance of the night. The youngster might have capped it perfectly in injury time too if he had not dragged wide a wonderful chance.