AITOR KARANKA will leave the search to find Dave Parnaby’s successor at Rockliffe Park in the hands of those above him at Middlesbrough.

Last week it was confirmed Parnaby has outlined an intention to retire and step down from his position as the club’s long-serving academy director.

He has overseen the development of more than 50 players through an academy rightly regarded as one of the most successful in the country, following the emergence of players such as Stewart Downing, James Morrison and, most recently, Ben Gibson.

Karanka was aware of the success of the youth system before taking over at the Riverside. For that reason the Spaniard will not get involved in the search for a replacement.

Karanka said: “I think the academy is really, really important for the club. If someone asks me for advice I will say so, but I think it's the club's decision because they have to bring the right person in, the people who know the area, the character of the teams because they are not the same, Spanish kids and English kids.

“I can give some advice because I have been working with the Spanish academy but I think it is a very important department in every single club.”

Parnaby, whose son Stuart was also a graduate of the system before going onto play for Boro in the Premier League and in Europe, has presided over youth development since the academy was formed in 1998.

Karanka said: “I arrived here just three years ago but he had already been here for 18 or more years and he's been amazing for this club. It's just for me to wish him all the best and enjoy a much-deserved retirement.

“I knew of the academy here because before I came here I studied the club so I knew everything when I arrived. That's why I compared this club to Athletic Bilbao when I came here.

“There are still players coming through too. Callum Cooke, Arnel (Jakupovic) the striker, (Ben) Liddle, Mitchell Curry, Hayden (Coulson) and Dael Fry … so a few, but they need to grow.”

In fact Gibson could go on to become one of the finest produced by the academy if his progression continues. He will wear the armband at Leicester if Grant Leadbitter is only named among the substitutes.

Just last weekend the centre-back was part of a defence which helped restrict Chelsea to just one goal at the Riverside and Gibson has looked the part more often than not.

He said: “People have said we were in for a tough game a couple of times, yet we’ve taken points from Man City and Arsenal. We fully believed we could get something. For playing the way we did, and creating the chances we did against a very good Chelsea, we’re disappointed to be coming away with nothing.

“I think it’s still early to say we’ve come of age. I feel like we’ve turned a corner, but it’s a long season and we’ve got to maintain these performances now. We have to maintain the drive, commitment and effort that we’ve shown in recent weeks.

“We need to keep hitting our levels. Ultimately, you’re going to lose games in the Premier League – we’re not going to be picking up points every single week. But it’s easier to swallow if you’re performing like we did at the weekend.”