A MEETING with Middlesbrough chairman Steve Gibson helped Steve McClaren to forget about the vacant managerial job at Newcastle United and concentrate on the job in hand on Teesside.

After Boro's Carling Cup triumph in February, McClaren's reputation is now at its peak and he was mentioned as a possible successor to Claudio Ranieri at Chelsea and is continually tipped to replace Sven-Goran Eriksson, whose future was questioned again after England's 2-2 draw in Austria.

Last week McClaren was initially installed as favourite to take over at Newcastle following the dismissal of Sir Bobby Robson but, after taking time to reflect, the flattered Yorkshireman reached the conclusion that he was better off at Boro.

Gibson has previously suggested that he is resigned one day to losing the services of his manager, who is regarded as one of the most enterprising in the game.

And McClaren admits that his relationship with the chairman, who has backed him in the transfer market since he took over in 2001, is one that convinced him to pull out of the race to take over at St James' Park.

"When there was the buzz about Chelsea at the beginning of the summer, all he (Gibson) asked was that I keep him informed of what I was thinking," said McClaren. "It was the same this time. I was duty bound to keep him up to speed with what was going on and we had a long chat. He really confirmed what was already at the back of my mind - that we had started something I felt honour bound to try to complete.

"Winning the club's first piece of silverware last season at Cardiff is an incredible memory that will live with me until my dying day. I said at the time that was just the first step, that we needed to build on that success with success in the Premiership and even Europe. The chairman has backed me all the way with the players we've brought in this summer (Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Mark Viduka, Ray Parlour, Michael Reiziger and Bolo Zenden)."

McClaren was one of those being seriously considered by Newcastle chairman Freddy Shepherd and the Boro boss made no secret of the fact he was tempted by making the switch to the North-East's other Premiership club.

However, after considering all eventualities, the Riverside chief believes he was right to remain at Boro and he is now focused on making his team a regular top six side.

"I'd be the first to admit my whole world was upside down for a while once it was made clear to me that Newcastle were interested," said McClaren. "What do you say? It's a massive club with some great players. It's got a tradition, a heritage and you wouldn't be human if part of you never thought: 'Yeah that could be the job for me.' I defy anybody not to have those sort of emotions.

"Then you do what you must always do and not act on first instincts. But sit down and think of the pitfalls and bonuses. Yes, there was something attractive about the job and it was flattering to be considered. But what I have at Middlesbrough is fantastic and to throw that way for a job which is surrounded by questions was something that didn't really sit right with me."

Boro take on Birmingham City at the Riverside on Saturday and Gareth Southgate is continuing his return to full fitness.

Southgate missed the opening two games of the season with a recurrence of the knee injury that kept him out of the European Championships in Portugal.

And, despite making a return at Fulham and then playing against Crystal Palace, the Boro captain has still been receiving treatment on many of his days off. But Southgate is expected to keep his place in the side to face Birmingham and he could be partnered at the back by Ugo Ehiogu, meaning a place on the bench for Chris Riggott.

Read more about Middlesbrough here.