STEVE GIBSON knows there is no shortage of interest in leading Middlesbrough in the Championship next season, although whoever is in charge will have a different man heading up the club’s scouting network.

Gibson is looking to “change all aspects of the club” following relegation from the Premier League and one of those adjustments will be to reach an exit agreement with chief scout Victor Orta.

The Spaniard was brought in by Aitor Karanka to oversee European scouting in December 2015 and Gibson claimed over the weekend that Boro's recruitment policy was not what they would “wish it to be”.

There have been hit and miss signings during that period, but the bottom line is that Boro's hopes of attacking the Premier League have come up short and Orta is set to pay the price for his part.

It is unclear what direction Gibson will look to now, but he could still look for someone to front up the recruitment team to work alongside Gary Gill in a similar director of football-type mould.

Orta and the club are in discussions to try to come up with a settlement agreement and once that has been concluded he will follow Karanka’s other backroom members out of the club.

Chief analyst Juanjo Vila, assistant Guillermo Alonso Salinas, first team coach Carlos Cachada and interim-goalkeeper coaching Marcos Abad have all gone already.

Goalkeeper coach Leo Percovich, sidelined through injury during the final weeks of Karanka’s reign, is still working with Steve Agnew and his backroom team.

There is major support from inside the dressing room for Agnew to remain in charge, despite supporters being more dubious about his permanent appointment after collecting just six points from 30.

Ex-Manchester United winger Ryan Giggs is the favourite for the job while there is plenty of interest in the post from elsewhere, with Gibson considering his options. He will be looking to make quick progress after Sunday’s final game with Liverpool.

Former Boro captain Nigel Pearson, who was on Teesside between 1994-98 under Bryan Robson’s management, has made it clear he would be keen on taking over.

Pearson has been out of work since October when he lost his job at Derby County, having previously impressed during his spells in charge of Leicester City and Hull City.

When asked whether he'd be interested, the 53-year-old said: "Yeah, I would be. You have a good chance to come up if you keep the right players together, for sure.

"Out of the Premier League for seven years, they worked hard to get back there, and it's been a year that they'll reflect on maybe with some regret. It's certainly disappointing. Having been there myself for four years, it's a really good club."