THIS has already been a tough year for Tony Mowbray, but if there is one thing he learned from his chats with Sir Bobby Robson a few years ago it was to head home from the training ground thinking of ways to improve.

A dreadful run of form since the turn of the year has seen Middlesbrough drop out of the promotion race after losing 14 of their 19 matches since the turn of the year, so Mowbray has perhaps had to reflect in his spare time more than he has ever done before.

But he is not the type to give up. Rather than switch off when he goes home he will turn on his TV and watch more football, considering ways and fresh ideas in the hope of turning Boro around.

That approach to football management was something Robson would adhere to and Mowbray believes such an outlook will eventually lead to brighter times after months of frustration on Teesside.

"I watch Sky Sports News 24/7 so it doesn't matter to me what's said about you, you need a thick skin, that's what you need," said Mowbray, well aware of growing discontent among Middlesbrough supporters in recent weeks."If you're going to fail in management then fail in your own way. If you're going to be successful you do it the way you want to do it. Everybody has got an opinion, you've got one, the next guy too, if you get swayed too much by other people's opinions you'll have regrets, so I think do football management your way and build the team you can."

The way Mowbray knows best is to constantly think about decisions and tactics. He might have taken bits from managers he has worked under like Bruce Rioch and George Burley, but Robson also had an effect even though he never played for him.

The Middlesbrough manager, speaking at the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation Golf Day yesterday, said: "I did know Sir Bobby. My connection goes back to my days at Ipswich. Charlie Woods was his scout for a number of years and he is still at Ipswich today. I knew Charlie very well.

"We went for lunch one day with Bobby. He was infectious about football. We were taking salt and pepper pots off other people's tables to talk about how opposing full-backs should get round to cover. I liked him.

"I have always loved football, I don't think he has rubbed off on me too much, but the good thing for me is being in his company shows what it is like for a manager to have that sort of longevity in the game. What he achieved shows me you have to eat it and sleep the game. That's what I do. That's maybe what I learned from him, being a deep thinker of the game."

What Mowbray has considered more than ever in the last few weeks is the financial side of the game. A failure to secure a return to the Premier League means there will be a greater drive to bring in players on lower wages over the summer.

But he does not think a reduced wage bill - with the likes of Stephen McManus and Nicky Bailey set to become free agents - means Middlesbrough have missed their chance to return to the top-flight.

"If you can build a team, it's a game of resources I'd suggest. That's why Man Utd are talking about spending £50m on Falcao," he said. "It is a game of resource, good players win football matches. But it's also a game of management skills, creating an environment where the players can flourish. Creating an environment where camaraderie can overcome individual talent."

Parachute payments are only set to increase for relegated clubs from the Premier League, but Mowbray said: "I think we'll have to wait and see what that means.

"You could have the counter argument, if they have a wage bill of £60m, £70m, £80m, if they have a parachute payment of £23m but they have a wage bill of £70m they've still got a £47m gap. How do they fill that? The money has to come from somewhere to pay those wages. If they don't bounce back in year one they're going to be in trouble.

"There's no guarantee just because you've got a parachute payment of £23m that you're going to be strong. Blackburn are an example of that … they came down with a parachute payment, spent £8m on a centre-forward and only last night got themselves out of relegation. Wolves are still in trouble."

Despite the disappointment, this week is the first week Middlesbrough have known for sure they will be still in the Championship next season with two matches remaining. Time to plan ahead?

He said: "I think the ongoing stuff we've been talking about for weeks - recruitment, etc - for next week continues to be ongoing. Regarding a team for the next two games, we have to try to win those matches."Some people have been talking about bringing in young players but our team has young players in it already. Adam Reach has played 27 games, Jason Steele has played all this season and is only 21, Richie Smallwood and Andy Halliday have been playing.

"It's not as if we're not a young side. We'll pick the team up and try to win the next few games but we're mindful of what we might have next season as well."