Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate has reiterated that the only way he will leave the club is if they sack him. The Premier League strugglers are in serious relegation danger, but the former England centre-back maintains he will never resign, telling the Daily Mirror: "There is no chance of me walking away. If you give up once in your life, you'll do it forever.

"I've got two children and I think if I ever quit on anything that would be a really poor example to set them.

"And it's the same with my players. I think if they saw me quit as manager it would be a scandalous example to set them.

"If you lost your job you obviously have to go home and explain to you family. But if I walked out on the job, I'm not quite sure how I could have that conversation with my family.

"It's not the side about being out of work but the side that you gave up on something. For me as an individual that would be one of the biggest sins there can be.

"I've got the support of the entire football club from what I can see. They've been an unbelievable help to me and given me fantastic backing.

"There's no way I would walk out on them. If it goes wrong I'm here to carry the can. I won't shy away from it. Then I'll come out fighting again. If it goes right, we'll celebrate together.

"Resignation can be likened to suicide. It's invariably a selfish act. You don't think about the people being left behind."