GARETH SOUTHGATE will not walk away from Middlesbrough no matter what happens this season – because he couldn’t look his daughter, Mia, in the eye as a quitter.

Even if Boro fail to avoid the drop in the final six games of the season, Southgate will not be tending his resignation at the end of next month.

In part, his resolve reflects the strength of his professional pride. But it also stems from a desire not to be seen as a hypocrite inside his own home.

The Middlesbrough manager has always told his daughter not to give up on anything, and while the last eight months have tested his strength of character, he is determined to practice what he has preached.

“No matter what happens, there is no chance I will walk away,” said Southgate, ahead of this afternoon’s crucial relegation clash with Fulham.

“If you give up once in your life, you’ll do it for ever.

“I’ve got two children and I think if I ever quit on anything, that would be a really poor example to set them. And it’s the same with my players.

I think if they saw me quit as manager, it would be a scandalous example to set.

“If I was to lose my job, I would have to go home and explain it to my family, but I could say, ‘The chairman’s decided to take this course of action’.

“But if I walked out on the job, I’m not quite sure how I could have that conversation with my family.

“It’s not being out of work that would matter – it’s the giving up on something. For me as an individual, that would be one of the biggest sins there could be.”

While last weekend’s 3-1 win over Hull eased Boro’s relegation fears, it came at the end of a run of one victory in 19 league games that must have pushed Southgate’s resolve to its limits.

The Boro boss was the subject of a succession of stories questioning his suitability for his position, and was verbally abused by his own supporters in the wake of a particularly dispiriting 1-0 defeat at Stoke.

Never once, though, did he decide that enough was enough.

“Resignation can be likened to suicide,” said Southgate.

“It’s invariably a selfish act.

You don’t think about the people left behind.

“There’s lots of players and staff who came to this football club because of me. I don’t think it would be fair on them to walk away. And I still believe I can do the job, which is the most important thing of all.”

Boro’s on-field leadership will be provided by Stewart Downing this afternoon, and with the winger having taken over the captaincy in the wake of Emanuel Pogatetz’s knee injury, Southgate feels his side could not be in better hands as they attempt to haul themselves out of the bottom three for the first time since early January.

“Stewart is just about our longest-serving player,” he said.“He’ll learn a lot, but he’s a strong character even though he’s still young. He’ll have a major part to play in the next few weeks.”