Mowbray's honesty is just perfect for Boro (From The Northern Echo)

Mowbray's honesty is just perfect for Boro

12:58pm Wednesday 16th March 2011 in Blog By Paul Fraser, Chief Football Writer

WHENEVER Tony Mowbray speaks, he wins the fans over. It is not necessarily his aim, but a refreshing honesty is what Middlesbrough supporters appreciate from the man in charge.

Earlier this week Mowbray was at the Riverside Stadium for a question and answer session, where he never ducked a question and delivered the sort of performance the locals were proud of.

Much of what he had to say was not particularly pleasing for fans, with those there revealing Middlesbrough's financial situation is such that Mowbray has to even think of reducing his playing staff just to free up some cash to appoint a sports scientist.

He even revealed there are not enough heart rate monitors to go around at a club that not too long ago thought nothing of handing out multi-million pound contracts for expensive signings.

This summer promises to be one of huge change at the Riverside – or at least it will be if Mowbray and chairman Steve Gibson have their way.

Gibson expects the annual wage bill, which is down to around £20m, to be dramatically reduced and that is likely to mean a number of players moving on. Whether or not Mowbray can offload the likes of Scott McDonald, Kris Boyd and Didier Digard remains to be seen.

But where club hero Mowbray has successfully kept the fans on side by publicly revealing the extent of the problems Middlesbrough face, it would be wise for Gibson to do the same.

Gibson remains a fans' favourite, but his star is fading at the moment because supporters want to hear a plan ahead from the very top.

After years of pumping his money in to reviving a club destined for closure before he stepped in, supporters will never forget the job he did in changing the face of a club threatened with closure in 1986.

But now, with Middlesbrough facing their worst financial situation since those dark days at Ayresome Park, Gibson's comments would be extremely well received by those fans still turning up for Q & As at the Riverside or matches in Boro's fight to stay up.

Mowbray has an enormous job on his hands, which is one he is determined to see through and bring the good times back to Teesside.

A private meeting with ticket holders might not be the ideal place for journalists to pick up comments to use in the next day's newspaper, but Mowbray has been honest and frank in his briefings with us from day one.

When Middlesbrough's position in the Championship is secured, it should be assumed Gibson will deliver his own verdict on the club's position.

That is the required next step for a club in need of a complete change of approach following more than a decade of over-spending in the Premier League.