Former Middlesbrough striker Bernie Slaven can understand Stewart Downing wanting to quit the club for Tottenham.

Slaven reckons the England ace, who signed a new five-year deal last season, is right to want to quit Teesside.

Slaven, 48, made 307 appearances for Boro and told The Sun: "As an ex-player, if I was in Stewy's position I would probably have done exactly the same.

"Can he achieve his goals at Boro? For the foreseeable future, there isn't a hope in hell."