According to that erstwhile publication The SUnday Mirror, having been snubbed by El Tel, Steve Gibson has set his sights elsewhere:

FOOTBALL: BORO TO OFFER KEEGAN POUNDS 8M

MIDDLESBROUGH will offer Kevin Keegan pounds 8m to take over from Bryan Robson following the break down of talks with Terry Venables.

Boro chairman Steve Gibson will stick by his close friend Bryan Robson until the end of the season but both men accept that his six-and-a-half year reign will then come to an end unless there is a remarkable turn around in the club's form.

The Sunday Mirror revealed last month that Boro - who lost 1-0 at West Ham yesterday - have already sounded out Keegan about a possible return to football.Although they then turned to Venables his response was enough for them to make a move for him when Robson goes.

Former Newcastle United, Fulham and England boss Keegan is keen to get back into management and he has told friends that the Boro job would be ideal for him.

Keegan's Wynyard estate home is just ten minutes drive from the Riverside Stadium and he wants to stay in the North East.

Just suppose it did happen. What would be your thought??

-- Anonymous, December 03, 2000

Answers

Interesting idea, but I would wonder if he would be prepared to do it.

I still reckon the reason Gibbo is sticking with BR is because Robo has got some compromising photo's of Gibson......even as a friend, if someone dragged my business that far down the pan I would get rid, friend or not, so if it ain't naughty piccies, what has he got on him?

-- Anonymous, December 03, 2000

I'd be absolutely delighted for young Kelvin if he took the job at The Riverside. He's a smashing lad and he's somebody I've enjoyed working with in the past. You know if I wasn't contracted to Newcastle United Football Club at the present time I could be tempted to take this job myself. They're a big club but make no mistake about it, so is Macclesfield Borough. I feel sorry for my namesick Brendan down there now. He's another really smashing lad and I could see the two of us working together as we did at national level. It would be just like father and son. Not a lot of people know this but I can tell you the reason Kelvin's hair was so curly in those early days is due to his time spent in that area. Coming from Scunthorpe he used to go there for his holidays and after a few weeks the chemical atmosphere turned his normally straight hair curly. The rest is legend. For this reason alone I'd be delighted if Kelvin took the job. Well actually that's not my main reason. Having already been turned down by one ex-England manager, and if Kelvin were to also turn them down Simon Gibson might just come knocking on my door and you know how much I love a doorstop challenge. And that would then leave the window open for Gregory Johns to take over my job. What would be your thought about that?

-- Anonymous, December 03, 2000

ITK - You wanna watch what you're saying mate.

As for the Keegan story, I think 'great, just what the Premiership needs' I don't suppose he'll get much to spend on new players, so it'll be interesting to see how he handles the ones he'll have.

-- Anonymous, December 03, 2000

Need a hand, young Gibbo?

-- Anonymous, December 03, 2000

See, it was easy. Practice makes perfect - and that's why I can switch off html when I've loused it up in thfirst case.

-- Anonymous, December 03, 2000

I hope it is bullshit, It's ok for the messiah to try to regenerate an ailing club down south, but to take the helm at one of our rivals? Please No.... stick with the gee gee's Kevin.

still kind of hope that some day he may return in some capacity to Newcastle perhaps as head coach when YBR goes upstairs.

-- Anonymous, December 03, 2000

According to Soccernet, El Tel has agreed to join Boro after all - but only until the end of the season.

"An emergency plea by manager Bryan Robson at a dramatic meeting with Venables in London following Boro's 1-0 defeat by West Ham at Upton Park resulted in an emotional change of heart.
The former England coach pledged to try to rescue his close friend from the mounting threat of relegation from the Premiership".

Presumably, they will both leave at the end of the season - perhaps paving the way for KK to take over! I hope not - it would offend me to see the Messiah managing the Smoggies.

-- Anonymous, December 03, 2000

Yeah Clarky - that was in one of the rags (Sunday Mirror, NotW - somewhere anyway) saying that El Tel has a commitment to ITV as a pundit when they take over MotD from ITK's lot. But until then, he's not too busy. Could be that they'll try to get KK next season - well, he's used to the First Division!

-- Anonymous, December 03, 2000

Apparently Venables has now agreed to work alongside Robson till the end of the season.

-- Anonymous, December 04, 2000