FOOTBALL legend Bryan Robson quit as Middlesbrough manager yesterday and admitted he had been driven out by angry fans.

The former England captain's seven-year love affair with the Boro came to a sad end when Robson announced he was leaving by "mutual consent".

The final straw in Robson's rollercoaster ride at The Riverside came when he was booed and jeered by Boro supporters after the club's last game of the season against West Ham.

"The fans made my mind up with the reception I received at the end," he said.

"I knew then it was time for me to move on and the club can move on."

His resignation, along with that of his assistant, Viv Anderson, paves the way for Manchester United's number two, Steve McClaren, to become the new boss at Middlesbrough.

Boro chairman Steve Gibson, who first brought Robson to Middlesbrough in 1994, sat alongside his friend to announce the separation.

"Bryan and Viv, after a lot of long and hard decisions and for a whole host of different reasons, have mutually agreed that both of them will be leaving the club," he said.

"Bryan and Viv are leaving after seven superb, wonderful and pleasurable years and the friendship that we've built up will continue."

Only a handful of those fans gathered outside The Riverside to see Robson's departure - a far cry from those heady days of 1994 when Captain Marvel received a hero's welcome from thousands of supporters as he arrived at the old Ayresome Park ground.

At least one fan was sad to see him go. Julie Harkin, 36, presented Robson with a single red rose and broke down in tears as she gave him a hug and kiss.

Julie said he should never have been allowed to leave, and had thrown out her Middlesbrough shirts and memorabilia in protest. "This is a disgrace after all this man has done for the club," she said.

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