STEVE McClaren's future was thrown into confusion last night after Middlesbrough chief executive Keith Lamb revealed the Boro boss had not signed the new four-year deal he claimed to have completed in November.

After months of protracted wrangling, McClaren, who is currently being touted as one of the leading contenders to replace England boss Sven Goran Eriksson, looked to have committed his long-term future to Boro when he hosted a joint press conference with chairman Steve Gibson on November 22.

At that conference, McClaren spoke of his relief at finally putting pen to paper on a new deal that was reported to tie him to the Riverside until 2009.

However, speaking on a two-hour radio phone-in last night, Lamb painted a very different picture.

The Boro chief was coming towards the end of his slot when a caller asked him to answer "yes or no" as to whether McClaren had indeed signed a new four-year deal.

"No," replied Lamb, before claiming that contracts were "there to be broken" anyway. "There is a technical issue that is private between the club and Steve McClaren," he added.

"Steve has not signed (the contract) but there is no big issue. We have shaken hands on it and a deal's a deal."

Off air, Lamb later sought to play down the significance of the revelation. He said: "A small amendment is needed to Steve's contract. It is a minor technical detail that is so small that it is not an issue either for the club or for Steve."

Nevertheless, the contrast with McClaren's words from November 22 is stark. Back then, the Boro boss had spoken of his relief at finally putting the endless speculation over his future to bed. With Boro hovering just three points above the relegation zone, and the Football Association about to start their search for Eriksson's successor, that speculation is certain to intensify again.

McClaren was unavailable for comment last night, although a source close to the Yorkshireman claimed the only remaining sticking point was a "very minor" legal and financial issue.

The source also claimed McClaren was totally committed to his new four-year deal, adding, "there is no way he will walk out".

Boro fans could, however, be forgiven for questioning why the club has felt the need to mislead them over whether contractual talks have been completed or not.

Accompanied by Gibson, McClaren had said in November: "I really want to get across the message of how committed I am to this football club.

"That's why I've signed again. We've had four years together and they've been four successful years.

"I asked the chairman what he wanted to achieve in the next four years and our ambitions matched each other's. That's why I've signed.

"This is my commitment to the club, the players and the fans. My concern at the present moment, and for the next four years, is to bring more success to Middlesbrough."

While there is no suggestion that McClaren's commitment has wavered, the fact that his contract remains incomplete makes it significantly easier for the club to dismiss him in the wake of recent results, or for him to walk away if England were to come calling in the summer.

That seems an increasingly unlikely prospect if the rumours emanating from Soho Square are to be believed and, while Boro fans have begun to turn against their manager in recent weeks, McClaren retains the wholehearted support of the club's board.

"Do I think Steve McClaren has made too many mistakes and, as a consequence, do I think he should go? At the moment I don't think he has," said Lamb, in response to an earlier questioner.

"It is my judgement that he's made some mistakes - but everybody does. He's also made some good decisions and, in the four-and-a-half years he has been with us, there have been more good times than bad.

"The club is at a low ebb at the moment, but we don't need to panic. What we need to do is pull together, circle the wagons and fight our way out of this. We are in a relegation battle and there is a realisation of that."

Meanwhile, Boro have denied reports that wantaway striker Szilard Nemeth has joined Strasbourg on loan.

The Slovakian has been in talks with the French Ligue 1 strugglers, and the club announced yesterday that he was joining them on a six-month temporary deal.

However, Boro say Strasbourg have jumped the gun and, if there is a deal to be done, it has to be a permanent one.

A Boro spokesman said: "It has been well documented that Szilard has been talking to Strasbourg but nothing has been confirmed as yet."

If the two clubs can come to an agreement, however, Nemeth may be in line to make his debut this Saturday against Paris St Germain. Strasbourg desperately need a goalscorer having netted just 14 times in 23 games so far this season, a statistic that explains why they sit second bottom.

Nemeth said he took advice from one of his Boro team-mates before opening discussions with the side.

"Franck Queudrue said they were a team who had been playing well without getting results," he said. "If I was not convinced they would remain in Ligue 1 I would not have come.

"For the moment, the challenge is to help keep the team in Ligue 1. The loan comes to an end at the end of the season. It is possible I will stay after that but we will see later.

"Middlesbrough have a big squad. There are many players and only 11 can play on any weekend."

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