BRYAN Robson yesterday vowed to make a comeback after losing his job following seven eventful and emotional years as manager of Middlesbrough.

Robson left after agreeing compensation for the two remaining years of his £1m-a-year contract, and assistant manager Viv Anderson also departed with a redundancy package.

The 42-year-old took over as player-manager at first division Boro nursing an ambition to become the boss of Manchester United and, eventually, England.

But the career dream fell apart, however, in the last 18 months with the former Captain Marvel turning into a target for abuse from furious fans.

Robson, though, revealed he wants to return to football after a family break: "It's the only thing I know.

"How long I stay out of the game I don't know but I believe I'll come back better for the experiences I've had here," he said.

"This has been a great learning curve in my career as a manager, so I hope I'll be involved somewhere along the line. I'll have a long holiday and then assess things."

And Robson, who took big names like Juninho, Fabrizio Ravanelli, Paul Gascoigne and Paul Merson to the Riverside as he spent £83m-plus on players - clawing £46m-plus back in the market - insisted he had not been a failure, despite the verdict of certain sections of the fans.

"When I first came here they said 'let's get promoted.' Fortunately we achieved that in the first year and things moved on very quickly from there," he said.

"Then my aim was to make the history books of the club and win something.

"Unfortunately we were never able to achieve that. We got close on a few occasions, but not close enough. So, after seven years, we feel it's best we move on.

"I have great memories, of leading the team out in an FA Cup final and League Cup final. And getting promoted - as far as I'm concerned, that's an achievement.

"I do look back at an interview I had with Wolves at the same time as Middlesbrough wanted me, and I look at Wolves now.

"They had a fantastic stadium then and wanted to achieve what Boro did.

"Now, Wolves are not quite there, so when I balance it out I think I've been, to a certain degree, a bit of a success at Middlesbrough."

The former England captain revealed it was the growing hostility of a vocal section of fans that finally persuaded him it was time to end his seven-year reign.

But, with the imminent arrival of Manchester United coach Steve McClaren as team manager, he had little choice but to go - even though the decision was described as 'mutual' by chairman Steve Gibson.

The final nail was driven in by the fans, who booed Robson when he walked on the pitch to join Venables - who was given a rapturous reception - at the end of the final game of the season at the Riverside Stadium, a 2-1 win against West Ham.

"I just felt, in that last game, the fans made my mind up," he said.

"With the reception I received at the end, I just thought it was time and for the club to move on. Sometimes it happens in football, but that made my mind up.

"When you lose the fans, it's time to go. It was disappointing for me to a certain degree because for the first few years I had a great rapport with them.

"I've had seven great years here and I think the foundations of the club are so strong it can go on to achieve whatever it wants."

In fact, if Terry Venables had accepted the offer of a permanent job at Boro last month, Robson would have stayed.

But everything changed when the former England coach decided to sign a five-year contract with ITV instead.

Robson had been under fire from supporters for over 12 months but it intensified before he moved aside in December and voluntarily brought Venables in, with the club joint bottom of the Premiership.

And he endured an embarrassing six months as non-managing manager while he stayed to help Venables save the club from relegation.

"There is no sense of relief for me, though my wife is quite relieved," he added.

"There is stress in this job but we're lucky, most people would give their right arm to have our job. It is enjoyable stress."

Robson had been strongly supported throughout by Boro chairman Steve Gibson, but eventually friendship was just not enough.