WITH Gordon Strachan set to be unveiled as Middlesbrough’s new manager on Monday, Colin Cooper has insisted there is no place for sentiment during this afternoon’s Championship game at Preston.

Boro chairman Steve Gibson has delayed confirming Strachan’s appointment as Gareth Southgate’s successor in an attempt to prevent the transition from overshadowing today’s trip to Deepdale.

With Tuesday night’s victory over Derby having taken the Teessiders to within a point of the Championship summit, caretaker manager Cooper could guide the club to the top of the table in a game that is almost certain to be his first and last as stand-in boss.

Middlesbrough’s players were shocked to learn of Southgate’s sudden departure on Tuesday night, but despite describing the last three days as “extremely difficult”, Cooper insists it is time to draw a line under the past.

“It’s not an easy thing, but we have to move forward,”

said the former first-team coach.

“A lot of the players are so young that they will not have experienced anything like this before.

“I’ve seen it a number of times, and I’ve told the players that they’re professionals and this is their job. They get very well paid to do that job, and now they have to step up to the plate.

“It doesn’t matter how they felt about Gareth – whether they were a fan of his because he’d given them an opportunity or whether they fell out with him because they weren’t in the team – the fact of the matter is that they’re professionals and they have to go out and make sure they do their job.

“All the emotions have to be put to one side. I’ve known Gareth for a long time, and noone was more disappointed about this week’s events than me, but for one afternoon none of that has to matter.

“The strategy for this football club is to move on very quickly.

“That’s no disrespect to Gareth, but we already have to look to the future.”

That future will begin in earnest on Monday when Strachan is officially unveiled at a press conference at the Riverside.

The Scotsman will not be attending today’s game at Preston as Gibson feels his presence would be too much of a distraction, but his long-term assistant, Garry Pendry, will be watching events from the stands.

At this stage, Pendry is expected to be Strachan’s only backroom appointment, but after assessing the strengths and weaknesses of the existing coaching staff over the next few weeks, he could opt to make further changes in the future.

The current Academy structure is sacrosanct, however, with Dave Parnaby certain to retain his position as Academy director and continuing to exert control over Academy operations.

Strachan will move from his current home close to Southampton to a permanent base in the North-East in order to take charge of the Teessiders, and Sunderland boss Steve Bruce has welcomed his appointment.

Bruce and Strachan played together at Manchester United, and the Black Cats boss remembers his former teammate as a sociable character whose longevity was testament to both his ability and attitude.

“He was the first person to take me out in Manchester,”

said Bruce.

“We went for a few beers when I arrived in 1987. I rented Michael Parkinson’s house – THE Michael Parkinson – and Gordon lived around the corner.

“He knocked on my door one day and asked if me and my missus wanted to go for a beer and a bite to eat.

“He was the same then as he is now. He is a serial joker with a sarcastic sense of humour.

But he was also a fantastic footballer, even in his younger days.

“He went on to Leeds, and then I suppose like all of us, once he got to 32 or 33 he changed his lifestyle because he was scared it was coming to an end.

“Gordon has great experience and he has been there done that and worn the Tshirt.

“He will command respect, and he has always done a decent job whether at Coventry, Southampton or Celtic. I wish him good luck.”

Bruce also expressed sympathy for Southgate following his sudden departure on Tuesday night.

The Sunderland boss was sacked following an ill-fated spell at Huddersfield, and knows all about the raw emotions the former Middlesbrough manager will be experiencing.

“I feel for every manager that gets sacked,” he said. “ I remember when I got the sack – I turned into a recluse.

“I was having some work done and I became a labourer rather than leave the house. It hurt me that badly.

“It was the first time I had been sacked, and I really questioned whether I wanted to come back. But you learn from it.

“At the moment, Gareth will be feeling devastated. I always get disappointed when I see a young English manager go, and Gareth has had a brilliant career.

“I was there (at the Riverside) the other night, and I was thinking ‘Good on you - you have won 2-0 and are a point off the top of the league.

Go and shove it to them’.

“Unfortunately, it looks as though the decision had already been made.”

■ With more than 3,000 away supporters expected to attend today’s game, 250 away tickets will be available from the away ticket booth at Deepdale from 12.30pm. The tickets, priced £20 for adults, £12 for over- 60s and 16-20s, and £5 for under-15s (under-7s are free) will be available for cash sales only.