GARETH SOUTHGATE cleared his desk at Middlesbrough’s training headquarters yesterday, paving the way for the arrival of Gordon Strachan at Rockliffe Park.

A deal is thought to be in place for the former Celtic boss to replace Southgate and there should be confirmation before Saturday’s trip to Preston.

Middlesbrough chairman Steve Gibson identified the Scot as his next managerial appointment some time ago, and last night he somewhat surprisingly admitted he made his mind up to end Southgate’s tenure after the home defeat to Leicester on September 29.

But it was not until Boro ended a three-match winless run at the Riverside Stadium with a victory over Derby County on Tuesday night that Gibson acted on his decision.

It was an announcement, released in the early hours of yesterday morning, which caught the football world by surprise, as has the revelation that Southgate was effectively a dead man walking for the final weeks of his three-and-ahalf year reign.

“I made the decision two or three weeks ago, but you have to act in the best interests of your football club,” said Gibson.

“We felt that the time had come to make changes to the running of our football club.

“After the result against Leicester and leading up to that I began to feel uncomfortable with the situation.

The best interests of the football club were to have a strategy I was clear about and a strategy that I could implement on a reasonable timescale.

“The result against Derby County at home wasn’t going to change any of that. Part of the strategy was to relieve Gareth of his responsibilities and duties no matter what after the game on Tuesday night.”

Gibson sat Southgate and his backroom staff down at the end of last season, following Middlesbrough’s relegation from the Premier League, and warned them that promotion was essential this season.

Yet despite witnessing Southgate take his team to within a point of the top two automatic promotion spots two days ago, boasting the best away record in the Championship, Gibson had already made up his mind.

He felt the chances of promotion were in serious doubt, having witnessed home form stutter and attendances drop to record lows at the Riverside – the lowest of which witnessed the win over Derby, just under 17,500 turning out.

“I think the league position flatters some of our performances.

When I look at some of the important games we’ve played against the clubs who are close to us we have quite an abysmal record,” said Gibson.

“In football terms, it wasn’t that tough a decision. In personal terms, it was very difficult because Gareth Southgate is a very good and decent man.

“The blame traditionally lies at the manager’s door and we needed to spark things, and get the fans and the town back behind the club. We can’t afford the splinters we have.”

Outside the region there has been a lot of sympathy for Southgate with Richard Bevan, chief executive of the League Managers’ Association, saying: “It is a mistake.

“I don’t think any of the statements released so far reflect the fact that Middlesbrough put £25m from transfer fees back into the books.

“Wages have been cut so considering where they are he has done a fantastic job. They are looking at the home losses but what about the wins away? I go along with Arsene Wenger in that Gareth could be a future England boss.”

While Southgate has been working hard behind the scenes to turn things around on the pitch, Gibson’s ruthless streak has emerged with the chairman contemplating his next managerial appointment.

Strachan is set to become that man and with a deal thought to be in place, the 52- year-old is now just weighing up everything before formally accepting to uproot from his Hampshire home to take over at the Teesside club.

Gibson did not want to name names, but he hopes to announce a deal for the former Celtic, Southampton and Coventry boss “before the Preston game (Saturday)”.

Gibson is believed to have spoken to Dermot Desmond, the most influential and largest shareholder at Celtic, about the merits of appointing Strachan and is said to have been encouraged by what he has heard.

Given the shortage of time before the trip to Deepdale, it is unlikely that Strachan will officially take charge of the Middlesbrough squad ahead of that match.

A more likely scenario is that the former Leeds and Manchester United midfielder presides over the team’s performance on Saturday before taking over the role on Monday morning. His first home game looks certain to be the visit of Plymouth on October 31.

It is unclear what Strachan’s appointment would mean for the remaining members of Southgate’s backroom team, although he would be expected to bring Garry Pendry, his former assistant at Celtic Park, with him.