Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate is angry with the "Chinese whispers" swirling about his job.

He said: "As with every story at the moment that surrounds this football club, there is half an element of truth and half an element that builds momentum through Chinese whispers.

"Everything gathers momentum at this time and with the internet being how it is now, people can print anything without foundation and a story can build up out of nothing."

Talk that chairman Steve Gibson had telephoned senior players to assure them that Southgate's position was safe came after he gave an interview to former England and Newcastle manager Sir Bobby Robson for his Mail On Sunday column.

Southgate said: "He (Gibson) has not phoned senior players, he was at the training ground and saw them.

"Steve was here last week talking to Bobby Robson and two or three of the senior players were here.

"I know he was cheesed off with one or two articles that have been written and he just wanted to put them straight.

"Sometimes players can wonder if the manager's position is okay because they see other clubs reacting the way they have.

"I can say it to them, but if the chairman says it, then it has more weight."