STEVE AGNEW has admitted Middlesbrough’s summer plans have been placed on hold until their Premier League future has been decided.

Boro are still in with a slender chance of staying up after showing fighting spirit to claim four points from two games against Sunderland and Manchester City.

But they are still likely to need to win all three of their remaining matches, and they could be consigned to the Championship if they fail to beat Chelsea on Monday.

Agnew, handed the head coach title following Aitor Karanka’s departure in March, has never been told how long he will hold the position for and there has not been any word over his length of contract.

That has led to plenty of question marks over who will be in charge beyond the summer, although Gibson has clearly wanted to see how Agnew has approached the job.

The uncertainty, however, has made it more difficult for Middlesbrough to put plans in place for when the transfer window opens.

Agnew has insisted he has not even thought about potential deals or transfers, with discussions to be had over his own future.

He also believes the players he will call on in the remaining matches of the battle against relegation are purely only thinking about the next three games.

Agnew said: “They remain focused. I have spoken to a number of players, as a group, and privately, and they are all right behind everything we do until the end of the season.

“The only players I am looking at are those I train with every day. That is all I am focused on.”

Middlesbrough will head to Chelsea hoping the six-point gap to Hull has not become greater over the weekend, when the Tigers will face relegated Sunderland at the KCOM Stadium.

Even if the Black Cats spring a surprise and win for only the second time this year, Boro are faced with the challenge of possibly needing to win the remaining games with Chelsea, Southampton and Liverpool.

Relegation from the Premier League would mean financial realignment again because of the extensive drop in TV revenue, even if the majority of the existing squad is likely to remain.

Championship football could open the door slightly wider for more of the club’s academy graduates, though. Karanka was reluctant to pitch them into first-team action during his time in charge.

Many young guns have headed out on loan and Crewe have admitted they would like Callum Cooke to return to Gresty Road after an impressive loan.

The 20-year-old midfielder has scored four goals in 17 appearances and contributed with assists too, but Crewe expect him to be more involved at Middlesbrough.

Crewe assistant boss Kenny Lunt said: “We would have loved to have kept Callum because he has been exceptional for us. I am unsure whether we will be able to do that but I am sure we will ask the question.

“Callum has done really well and I am sure he has enjoyed the experience. I’m sure he will go back to Middlesbrough in pre-season and try his best to get closer to their first-team squad.”

Another youngster is Connor Ripley. The goalkeeper has enjoyed a brilliant spell with Oldham on loan and has collected a hat-trick of awards.

Ripley equalled Oldham’s club record of 18 clean sheets in a season and that was also the most in League One this year. He also pulled off the most saves in the division (175).

“We have a goalkeeper who is playing at the top of his game and I’m chuffed to bits he’s ended up equalling the record," Latics boss John Sheridan said. “He was really good again [on Saturday] and he’s had a magnificent season.”