Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate will be given until Christmas to turn results around at the Riverside.

The Sunday Mirror says Steve Gibson, one of the most loyal chairmen in the game, is being forced to consider his club's long term future before the transfer window re-opens in January.

Gibson hopes Southgate can halt the Boro slide but the clear danger for the rookie manager is that a change of boss will be made when funds are made available for the recruitment of new faces.