MIDDLESBROUGH chairman Steve Gibson is set to hold crunch talks with Terry Venables and Bryan Robson in a bid to keep their partnership together at the Riverside Stadium.

With Boro finally assured of Premiership status, multi-millionaire Gibson will begin the process of establishing the future direction of the club.

Robson yesterday refused to confirm his plans, but the Boro manager has two years left on his contract and has privately intimated his commitment to the cause.

Further evidence of that was provided yesterday as Robson and Boro chief executive Keith Lamb flew out of Teesside Airport on transfer business.

Robson has already sanctioned the signing of £3m-rated Slovakia striker Szilard Nemeth, who is scheduled to arrive this summer from Inter Bratislava.

But the position of head coach Venables, recruited last December on a short-term deal to rescue Boro from relegation, remains far from clear.

The 58-year-old former England boss is due to leave after Boro's last match of the season at home to West Ham a week on Saturday.

Venables has landed a lucrative deal as ITV's senior pundit on the new Saturday night highlights programme next season.

But Gibson is hoping to persuade him to extend his stay with a tempting counter offer, rumoured to be worth £2m-a-year.

Venables has ruled out a part-time coaching role with Boro, but even if he moves on he could retain links with the club as a high-powered consultant.

It is also possible that Venables could vet the appointment of a new coach to work alongside Robson, who has taken Boro on a roller-coaster ride in his seven years with the club.

Robson yesterday admitted the season had been "the most disappointing'' of his Teesside tenure.

But he was quick to salute the crucial influence of Venables in Boro's escape from the drop.

Ipswich came from behind to beat Manchester City 2-1 at Portman Road on Monday night and consign Joe Royle's side to Division One along with Coventry and Bradford.

"Obviously, I'm delighted for everyone at the club,'' said Robson. "It's been hard work this season, but thankfully we're playing in the Premiership again next year.

"It's probably the most disappointing season since I've been here, in the sense that we've had to battle to stay in the Premiership.

"But it was a good move bringing Terry in - he's done a great job.

"We'll sit down and have a chat with Terry and Steve Gibson and then decide what will happen. No decisions have been made yet.''

Robson added: "I watched Monday's game on TV and your nerves were on edge, especially when City went in front.

"But everything worked out for us and we can relax now, enjoy the next week-and-a-half, and look forward to the last game.

"It wouldn't have been nice going into it needing a point to stay up.''

l Boro's Republic of Ireland winger Alan Moore is set to join Scottish Premier League side Hearts on trial.