BRYAN ROBSON is ready to quit Middlesbrough - and is understood to have recommended Terry Venables as his successor.

In much the same way sacked boss Lennie Lawrence turned king-maker to help chairman Steve Gibson lure Robson to Teesside six-and-a-half years ago, the former England captain wants to play a major role in smoothing the next managerial transition.

Such is the close bond forged between Robson and Gibson that the Boro manager is anxious not to leave his chairman in the lurch.

Boro are believed to have already had contact with out-of-work Venables over the prospect of him taking up a part-time coaching role under Robson.

But the one-time England coach, who admits he is "starving'' to get back into football, is said to have rejected the idea.

The chance to be his own boss again, however, may appeal.

Robson, Venables' right-hand man with England during Euro '96, faces a date with destiny at the Riverside Stadium today when his side attempt to end a run of seven defeats against bottom-of-the-table Bradford City.

But, regardless of the outcome of the Premiership basement battle, Robson has decided his future ultimately lies elsewhere after a roller-coaster ride with Boro.

Ideally, his aim is to pull Boro clear of relegation trouble and leave at the end of the season.

But, with a recent poll showing that 89 per cent of fans believe he should go, Robson knows that only a dramatic transformation in Boro's form can help him achieve his final goal.

Significantly, Robson held top-level talks at Boro's Rockliffe Park training base yesterday with Gibson and chief executive Keith Lamb.

Robson was later conspicuous by his absence at the pre-match press conference, which was conducted by assistant manager Viv Anderson.

The Boro No 2 looked uncomfortable as he fielded questions about Robson's future and Boro's plight.

Is it the end for Bryan? "I don't know about that,'' he replied.

"Do I think he'll be here at the end of the season? I haven't got a crystal ball - but I hope so.

"Bryan is not a quitter, he never has been, and I think people should get behind him.

"I think he'll see it out because we both came here to do a job.

"This is the most difficult time I've known in management. I had a spell at Barnsley a bit like this.

"Bryan has been through a lot in his long career. He was a top player for many years and he's used to the ups and downs.

"You always have worries about your own position when you're third bottom of the league and you're not playing well.

"It's a matter of riding the storm. You've got to have a big heart and a lot of spirit and I think we've got those things here.

"Relegation doesn't come into the vocabulary when it's only November. We've not talked about relegation.''

Bradford will be eager to impress new boss Jim Jefferies, who was appointed this week.

And Anderson stressed: "It's important we don't get beaten, but I don't think our futures hinge on this result.

"As long as we get something out of the game, I'll be more than delighted and we'll go on to the next one.

"I don't think it's a make-or-break game. There are 20-odd matches to go this season and this one is not the be-all and end-all.

"Everybody is writing Mr Robson's obituary and I think that's unfair.

"We've seen other people in this sort of position, like Harry Redknapp at West Ham. His players got him out of it and I think our players will do exactly the same for us.''

Robson held a clear-the-air meeting with his players this week after last Saturday's disastrous 3-0 home defeat by Leicester.

"The players have responded to the meeting we had on Monday and they've worked hard in training,'' said Anderson.

"It was a full and frank discussion and most of the senior players had their say.

"But it doesn't matter whether you're Alex Ferguson or Fabio Capello or the best coach in the world, you can't legislate for silly schoolboy errors.

"We can't do anything about that. The players are doing silly things that are costing us games and it's not down to the management in any respect. We've also had a lot of injuries which haven't helped.

"We're getting criticism, but I would say to the fans: 'Stick behind us and give us the same support you gave us against Arsenal a few weeks ago and we'll respond.'

"I think we've got a lot of good players and they just need a bit of encouragement.''

Anderson, meanwhile, denied that Boro had made a £3m bid for Derby wing-back Rory Delap