STEPHEN McMANUS has accepted he will be leaving Middlesbrough this summer by claiming he is "not daft" when it comes to thinking about the future.

The Scottish centre-back, who was an unused substitute for Boro's 1-0 win over Nottingham Forest on Tuesday, will become a free agent at the end of the season when his contract expires.

He has endured a difficult time at Middlesbrough since Gordon Strachan persuaded him to leave his boyhood team Celtic behind in January 2010, initially on loan before a permanent deal was concluded.

But he arrived at a time when there was more money to spend on contracts, so he has been one of those always likely to depart if a suitable deal could be arranged.

McManus, 30, said: "I was on the bench but it will be time for me to move on from Middlesbrough. I've had three years there. I've really enjoyed my time at the club, even though I've not played as regularly as I would've liked.

"That's because of circumstances and different things. Unfortunately, that's the way football goes. But I've loved my time there. I've met some really good people and it's a really good football club.

"The facilities, the club, the chairman, the way it's run, it deserves to be in the Premier League. But unfortunately the team's not managed to get out of the Championship."

It is the first time McManus - who has had a loan spells at Bristol City - has ruled out staying, having previously suggested that decisions will be made in the summer.

But, speaking on an SFA coaching course in Glasgow yesterday, he said: "I've not sat down and had a chat with the manager yet. But I'm not daft, you know how it works. He's been terrific with me, understanding my desire to come up here for coaching courses. He's been honest with me and that's been fine."

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