CHIEF scout Ray Train is the latest casualty of a backroom shake-up at Middlesbrough.

Train, who has been with the club for 13 years, is to be axed as manager Steve McClaren makes key changes behind the scenes.

The departure of head physio Bob Ward, appointed by McClaren's predecessor Bryan Robson eight years ago, is also expected to be confirmed this summer. Train was brought to Boro as a coach by ex-boss Colin Todd and also served under Lennie Lawrence.

When Robson arrived in 1994, he handed the former Sunderland and Carlisle midfielder the chief scout's role.

By his own admission, McClaren is intent on making his mark with Boro after coming through what he describes as his toughest time in football.

When the former Manchester United assistant boss launched his managerial career at the start of the 2001-02 season, he was stung by four successive Premiership defeats.

But the man chairman Steve Gibson chose to lead Boro into a new era learned quickly, and steered the Teessiders to a 12th-place finish and an FA Cup semi-final.

"I was relieved to get through the first year,'' confessed McClaren. "Everybody said it would be my toughest, and it was. But, however exhausting it was with the dual role I had coaching England as well, my enthusiasm never dipped.

"Six months into my career here, not everyone was rowing in the same direction.

"Now I know, two years on, that everybody from the chairman all the way through the club IS rowing in the same direction and knows where this club is going.

"We're very comfortable with that. I spoke to the chairman this week and we always have plans for this club. We want a higher profile for the club - we want to put Middlesbrough on the map.

"I'm comfortable here, but with a burning ambition to do better. We might be satisfied with 12th and 11th place, but we can't be happy.''

McClaren admitted his frustration over the double failure to achieve the club's highest Premiership placing and points total. Boro's 11th-place finish in the season just ended was two rungs below their best position under Robson in 1999.

And the 49-point haul was three short of the total Robson's side reached the following year.

"We got so close,'' said McClaren. "It rankles that, for the last two seasons, we had an opportunity to really stamp our mark on this club and it hugely disappoints me that we failed to do that. We could have been in the top ten.

"When we first came through the door, Middlesbrough were relegation material.

"This season, we wanted to establish the team as a 45-50-point-a-season side and we've done that.

"Next season, we need to be a 55-point side. If we get lucky with injuries and suspensions, we might get into the 60s, and then you're talking top six.

"But you can't make the jump straight away because the Premiership is getting much tougher and that's why we need to keep investing, otherwise you stand still.''

* Boro are reported to be facing competition for Brazilian midfielder Doriva, who spent the last three months of the season on loan from Celta Vigo.

With Boro keen to offer the 30-year-old a permanent deal, two rival Premiership clubs are understood to have declared their interest.

Read more about Middlesbrough here.