SO three years after Paul Ince's Middlesbrough career began, he has decided the time has come for pastures new.

And his departure, after turning down a new two-year contract, represents a massive blow to the club, whose fans have adored him since the day he set foot inside the Riverside.

Ince, 35 in October, is certainly not getting any younger but his performances last season were as impressive as ever.

When Steve McClaren took over the Boro reins, just over a year ago, many believed the self-styled Guv'nor would be the first to be shown the door by the new boss.

However, Ince's displays convinced McClaren to stick by the midfielder and keep him as the club's skipper - a decision which has been vindicated by the player's attitude both on and off the pitch.

The former Manchester United man, who arrived on Teesside in a £1m move from Liverpool in 1999, would never shirk an interview and showed tremendous leadership on the pitch.

Regardless of the match and regardless of the scoreline, time after time Ince would be seen in the middle of the park trying to gee up his teammates.

During the troubled 2000-01 campaign when Bryan Robson's tenure was on its last legs, the Boro skipper never gave up in his fight to keep his boss and friend in a job.

And he was known to take the odd half-time team talk when proceedings were not going to plan.

In fact had Ince not been so influential during the final few months of that relegation threatened year, Boro may well have found themselves playing First Division football last season.

There's no arguing that Terry Venables - drafted in by Robson to mastermind a great escape - was behind the tremendous tactical turnaround in the whole squad, but Ince in the middle of the pitch proved a revelation in the drive to steer Boro away from the bottom three.

Italian side Brescia and a host of English clubs - including Birmingham and Everton - are considering making an approach.

But wherever Ince goes McClaren will have the unenviable task of filling the former England international's boots.

George Boateng, Owen Hargreaves and Muzzy Izzet have all caught the eye of the Boro chief.

And, with Ince's midfield sidekick Robbie Mustoe on the verge of a move to First Division Derby County, the need to bring in fresh midfield blood is paramount.

But whoever McClaren has earmarked to play in the engine room next season, he already has a ready made replacement within in his ranks to take over the captain's armband.

Gareth Southgate has commanded the respect from all of the Boro squad since his £6.5m arrival from Aston Villa last summer.

And the 31-year-old, like Ince, is someone who can deal with the demands of talking to the waiting press whenever he is asked to.

Rumours have abounded that Southgate has grown frustrated at Boro since his failure to force his way into the England World Cup starting 11.

However, being named captain could also strengthen the manager's hand in keeping the defender in the North-East amid reports claiming there are a number of potential buyers waiting to pounce.

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