GARETH Southgate insists leading Middlesbrough to UEFA Cup glory would be the proudest moment of his career but feels the competition has been devalued by the ease in which teams can now qualify.

Despite finishing seventh in the Premiership - the club's highest ever finish - a place in European club football's second-rate tournament was still guaranteed and there is every chance that Southgate could lift the famous trophy in May.

Boro need just a point from their Group D match with Dutch outfit AZ Alkmaar tonight to book a place in the last 32 and increase the possibility of a return to Holland for the final in Eindhoven next year.

And, while being optimistic about the club's chances of winning its first piece of major European silverware, Southgate claims the competition's governing body, UEFA, should seriously reconsider the format.

Attendances have suffered across the board since UEFA increased the numbers of those qualifying from each domestic league into the Champions League.

The third-place finishers from the first stage of the continent's flagship tournament then fall into the UEFA Cup and, as one of those could be Manchester United this season, Southgate is not convinced the current way is fair.

"If you're in one competition and you get knocked out, why should you go into another one, just so you don't lose any money?" said Southgate. "It gives the bigger teams an extra advantage over the smaller teams.

"To my mind, the European competitions have been too easy to get into. That's benefited us, because we finished seventh, but I think the Champions League should be the best team in each country.

"The group stage of the UEFA Cup has not been a great success. There are too many dead-rubbers. The knockout format is better and I think going back to the old system would be better, even though that means we wouldn't have been in Europe this year.

"It's easier than it should be to get into Europe. At Aston Villa we finished fourth and that was considered an OK season - now it's considered a bus ride through a town.

"I don't think it's beyond the realms of possibility that we could win this tournament. Any cup competition is wide open.

"And, if you look at the prestige and history of the competition, it would be fantastic to win. It would be a proud moment for me if we won it - the best of my career - but I'd like it to be more difficult to get into."

Boro's squad head to the northern district of Holland without the distraction of whether or not manager Steve McClaren will sign a new contract.

After months of stalling over signing a four-year deal, McClaren confirmed on Tuesday that he has committed his future to the Riverside.

And his captain is now hoping that development will help convince midfielder George Boateng to follow suit and sort out his contract wrangle with the club.

"It's good for everybody that we know the position now. It could have gone on and become a distraction for everybody," said the 35-year-old.

"The players all want to know the manager is there for a settled period of time and it will be important from that respect, while it will also be important in terms of negotiating with players.

"It's good he'll be around to talk to George and Jimmy (-Floyd Hasselbaink). For players like those two to know that the club is stable could ensure they stay here. George in particular is the one the club is speaking to now and I'm sure one of the reasons he came here in the first place was because of the manager."