Gibson insists backroom staff must stay at the Riverside

The Boro chairman, who is in the process of formulating a shortlist of leading candidates, is willing to bide his time as Steve McClaren is still tied to Teesside until May 16 despite his installation as England's next manager on Thursday.

McClaren is expected to take sports psychologist Bill Beswick, currently employed on a consultancy basis at the Riverside, with him when he takes up his new post at Soho Square on August 1.

But, with the Football Association poised to announce a new coaching set-up that is likely to include Manchester City boss Stuart Pearce, it is extremely unlikely that other key members of McClaren's backroom team will also be joining him in the international fold.

That is good news for Gibson, who has spoken extensively of his desire to keep disruption to a minimum this summer despite an enforced change of manager.

But the retention of the likes of Steve Round and Steve Harrison is unlikely to appeal to O'Neill, someone who continues to figure highly in most discussions over the identity of the new Boro boss.

In the past, O'Neill has worked closely with John Robertson and Steve Walford, and the FA's refusal to allow the Northern Irishman to pick his own backroom staff is understood to be one of the key reasons behind his failure to win the race to succeed Sven-Goran Eriksson.

Gibson is equally determined to prevent O'Neill making wholesale changes at Middlesbrough's Hurworth Academy complex and, provided he stands his ground, it is difficult to see how the two figures can strike a compromise that will enable them to work together on Teesside.

"The Academy will not be touched," said Gibson, who has also criticised Arsenal vice-chairman David Dein for his part in the laborious selection process that led to McClaren being installed as England boss. "We don't want someone coming in with a great big team to throw out what has been created.

"We want progress, but progress on the club's terms. We want the club philosophy and methods to be followed.

"The new manager will have to fit into the culture of the football club - our integrity, the way we deal with agents, our Academy and our fitness regimes.

"Our infrastructure is as good as it gets - look at our kids coming through - and the challenge for a new manager is to make them better. It's a great opportunity."

Gibson is also keen to retain the services of Gareth Southgate, Colin Cooper and Ugo Ehiogu, three Middlesbrough players drawing towards the end of their playing careers.

The 48-year-old, who has always been one of the most progressive of the Premiership's chairmen, is even talking of establishing an Academy-style system to provide a bridge between a footballer's playing days and their coaching career.

Cooper and Southgate, in particular, are seen as future managers in waiting, although the current vacancy has come too soon for either to consider filling the post.

Southgate is currently studying towards his UEFA 'A Licence', but remains more than 18 months away from attaining the 'Pro Licence' needed to manage in the top-flight.

Nevertheless, Gibson is adamant the 35-year-old will not be forced out of the Riverside this summer.

"Gareth Southgate is someone we will not allow to leave this club, if at all possible," added the Middlesbrough chief. "He has been magnificent for us in the time he has been here."

Of the leading candidates to replace McClaren, only former Charlton boss Alan Curbishley and current Hibernian manager Tony Mowbray would be completely comfortable with inheriting a ready-made backroom staff.

Despite protesting otherwise last weekend, Curbishley, who was on Gibson's shortlist when he appointed McClaren in 2001, is understood to be receptive to a rapid return to top-flight management.

The Londoner will bow out as Charlton boss at Old Trafford tomorrow and is almost certain to figure in Gibson's discussions with chief executive Keith Lamb.

Mowbray remains the fans' choice courtesy of his 345 playing appearances for Boro but, despite being 3-1 joint-favourite for the post with North-East bookmakers Pagebet, the current Hibs boss is reluctant to show too much interest in the position.

"It's a romantic notion in the media's mind because of the fact I once played for the club," he said yesterday. "I appreciate it is only speculation but it doesn't do me any favours."

McClaren will take charge of his penultimate game as Middlesbrough manager at Fulham tomorrow in a game that will be little more than a reserve-team training session ahead of Wednesday's UEFA Cup final in Eindhoven.

But, while the Yorkshireman will begin to turn his attentions towards this summer's World Cup once the Boro squad return to England next Thursday, he will continue to assist in the process of identifying his successor.

"To be fair to Steve, he's been working his socks off this last week," said Gibson. "There's no panic, we know what we are doing pre-season and over the summer.

"When Steve and I agreed an extension to his contract, I would have wished him to stay for another three years.

"I know that if I need any help, I'll get it from him. I'll be able to call him any time and he'll be happy to help us."

In the meantime, the row over the convoluted selection procedure that led to McClaren's appointment continues to rumble on.

Dein, a member of the FA's six-man Nominations Panel, has been roundly criticised for blocking an approach to his club's manager, Arsene Wenger.

But an FA spokesman last night insisted Wenger had been sounded out in the early stages of the selection process, only to rule himself out of the running.

"The meeting with Arsene was extremely useful," said the spokesman. "But it was obvious within minutes that he did not want to be considered for the role of England head coach.

"However, he was extremely helpful and provided a great insight into some of the challenges facing any manager. We were very grateful for his time."

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