STEVE GIBSON is determined to appoint Gareth Southgate as Middlesbrough’s next manager and will refer to his club’s exemplary record in serving the English game as just cause for the centre half to be promoted without the necessary coaching badges. The Middlesbrough chairman last night paid tribute to his “different-class” captain, who he is adamant is capable of replacing Steve McClaren.

Having discussed the vacant position with Terry Venables, Martin O’Neill and Alan Curbishley — none of whom were offered anything substantive — Gibson has chosen to promote from within rather than widen and dilute his shortlist. Following Newcastle United’s recent lead regarding Glenn Roeder, he will appeal to the FA Premier League to back his candidate’s “special circumstances”.

Where Roeder was permitted to take the Newcastle job despite lacking the Uefa Pro Licence, which is mandatory for new managers in the Barclays Premiership, Gibson will argue that regular summers of international football have prevented Southgate, who won 57 caps, from gaining his coaching qualifications. “Why should he be penalised for being remarkable,” he said.

Southgate does not have an A licence, let alone the more senior qualification, but having allowed McClaren to leave for England with one month’s notice, he believes his club are due some recognition.

Many foreign coaches, including World Cup winners, have applied for McClaren’s former post, but Gibson’s contention is that an English system should be encouraged and supported by the authorities. Southgate, he argues, has known many of the players who have come through the Middlesbrough academy.

John Barnwell, of the League Managers Association. was unenthusiastic about the possibility — “They can’t do it, it’s as simple as that”, he said — but Gibson’s response was scathing. “John Barnwell doesn’t know what it’s like to take a club from liquidation to the Uefa Cup final,” he said. “I will take the decisions that are right for Middlesbrough.

“The reason we have fast-tracked Gareth is because we have let our previous manager become the new England head coach. Surely we shouldn’t be denied for bureaucratic reasons, when any schoolteacher could go and get those qualifications? He should be supporting a great English football club called Middlesbrough; when England came calling, we delivered.”

In discussions with Southgate, Gibson has been impressed by the centre half’s vision and intelligence. He had already earmarked the 35-year-old as a future manager and was determined that a new appointment should not disrupt the structure of the club, which features a modern infrastructure, highly regarded coaches in Steve Harrison and Steve Round and a well-established academy and scouting network.

“No one knows this club like Gareth does and I do,” Gibson said. “He has seen it from the inside, knows how it operates and buys into it. If we brought in someone else, he’d have his own ideas, he’d have to learn about our players and our set-up. Gareth can run with it straightaway. I’m sure he’ll make a great manager.”

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