Boro owner ‘needs support’

Middlesbrough fans should give chairman Steve Gibson their full backing, according to former Newcastle owner Sir John Hall.

Speaking to BBC Tees Sir John claimed that Gibson is doing a fantastic job in bankrolling the club but must have his doubts about what is happening at the club.
"When I see the support he doesn't get, he must wonder if it is worth carrying on," he said.

"I feel sorry for Steve, he's done a hell of a job."

Gibson was part of a consortium which took Boro from the brink of liquidation in 1986 and took over as chairman eight years later.

He stuck with the club despite their relegation into the Championship in 2009 despite having to contend with falling attendances and some disappointing performances on the pitch. Anyone looking to place a winning Championship bet will know things are getting better now.

However, Sir John pointed to the small crowds, claiming that 13,000 fans a week is “not good enough” and that a full stadium would give the players a boost as well as ensuring the club had some much needed funds in the bank.

The former Newcastle owner admitted that he would not have ploughed his personal fortune into a club in the manner which Gibson has done and claimed that the Boro chief must have “put millions in” to keep the club running.

Despite recent poor performances on the pitch, it hasn’t all been doom and gloom during Gibson’s reign.

In 2004 the club won the Carling Cup and two years later Steve McLaren took them to the UEFA Cup final, which they lost 4-0 against Sevilla.