MIDDLESBROUGH'S fight to keep Terry Venables at the Riverside Stadium still hangs in the balance and could drag on to next week.

Talks between Venables, Boro chairman Steve Gibson, manager Bryan Robson and chief executive Keith Lamb, broke up last night with the future of the former England boss remaining unresolved.

Lamb emerged from lengthy negotiations to confirm: "We've had talks and nothing has been decided. It would be wrong to say that Terry's association with Middlesbrough will end after our game against West Ham. It's a 50-50 thing.''

Gibson returned from a business trip to South Africa to launch an 11th hour attempt to persuade Venables to stay with Boro.

Venables went into crunch discussions at Boro's Hurworth training base insisting he had "more or less'' made up his mind about his next move.

Fans and players fear Venables will leave Teesside after pulling Boro clear of relegation in a six-month role as head coach.

But before going into the meeting, Venables hinted he had not closed the door on Boro, saying: "We've got to come to an agreement one way or the other.''

Gibson is understood to be prepared to offer Venables a £2m-a-year deal to become Boro boss in his own right.

Venables has already lined up a lucrative deal with ITV to help Des Lynam present the new Saturday night highlights programme next season.

But Boro are making a determined effort to hold on to 58-year-old Venables, who answered an embattled Robson's plea for urgent assistance last December.

At the time, Robson was willing to step down to first-team coach to facilitate Venables' appointment as manager on a long-term basis.

Venables' commitments to ITV scuppered that scheme, but a compromise was reached when he agreed to front Boro's battle against the drop as a trouble-shooting coach.

Robson has indicated he wants to stay with Boro whether Venables goes or not. But after seven roller-coaster years under the Robson regime, many fans feel it is time for a change.

Meanwhile, Venables yesterday defended Boro's decision to keep a tight rein on Argentinian crowd-pleaser Carlos Marinelli.

The 19-year-old strike prodigy will be let loose today at the Riverside in the final game of the season against West Ham, to make only his second senior start since Robson signed him from Boca Juniors for £1.5m early last season.

A number of fans feel Marinelli should have been given more first-team opportunities during Boro's fight against relegation.

But Venables insists that an ankle ligament injury, which kept Marinelli out for three months, and a raw temperament, were the key reasons for holding him largely in reserve.

Marinelli had a major impact when he came on as a substitute in the 1-1 draw at Bradford two weeks ago.

And with Alen Boksic sidelined with a hamstring injury and Hamilton Ricard having undergone a hernia operation, Boro will today be looking to Marinelli for more attacking inspiration.

Venables said: "I don't think you need to be clever to see what his ability is. It's very visual - very easy on the eye. He was unfortunate in that he was injured in my first week here and was out for a while.

"But maybe it wouldn't have been good for him to come into the heat of battle from day one.

"He's come from a different culture and he's an outstanding prospect, and his time will come.

"But he's got to improve on a couple of things. He's got to make sure he doesn't retaliate if he gets a whack.

"A week or so before I came he got sent off against Bradford for a retaliatory tackle. He's also got to improve on being part of the team.

"A lot of people wanted to see him earlier - I know that's the supporters view and if I was a supporter I would be saying the same. I think the supporters' excitement is justified. But players like him have to be protected.''

Former Boro star Craig Hignett will join a host of names in a fund-raising game tomorrow for the family of the late Stephen Bell.

Boro are helping to organise the game, which will see old boys take on a select team of ex-Newcastle and Sunderland players.

Bell was only 36 when he died after a long illness last month.

Hignett, now with Blackburn, will team up with the likes of Terry Cochrane, Bernie Slaven, Mark Proctor, Jim Platt and Archie Stephens. Steve Gibson will also make an appearance in the game, along with former Newcastle and Sunderland star Chris Waddle.

Sunderland manager Peter Reid and United legend Peter Beardsley could also be involved.

The match takes place at Billingham Synthonia's Central Avenue (11.30am). Admission is £2.

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