STEVE McCLAREN admits he has been forced to take a leaf out of Bobby Robson's book at Newcastle in a bid to rebuild Middlesbrough's fortunes.

Manager McClaren inherited one of the biggest squads in the country from free-spending predecessor Bryan Robson.

But with money seemingly too tight to mention at the Riverside Stadium following a dramatic slump in season-ticket sales, McClaren has had to act quickly to pare down his playing resources and reduce a hefty wage bill.

No fewer than nine players with first-team experience have left the club since former Manchester United No 2 McClaren took charge in the summer.

Gary Pallister retired through injury and Christian Karembeu, Keith O'Neill, Brian Deane, Steve Vickers, Curtis Fleming, Paul Okon, Steve Baker and young keeper Chris Bennion, have all moved on.

In addition, striker Joseph-Desire Job has joined Metz on loan until the end of the season with a view to a permanent deal.

McClaren's net spending is so far around £5.3m, but yesterday he conceded that he is still only in "phase one'' of his Riverside revamp.

"It's like the Newcastle situation,'' said McClaren. "Bobby had to do a bit of spring cleaning when he first went there.

"Look at the number of players he has got rid of. In the first two years, I think it was more than 30. Now you see the way things are developing there, and I think we're in exactly the same situation.

"We're in phase one. I was talking to Bobby and he's quite right when he says that, in the first place, you have to work with what you've got.

"When I came here, we had a big squad and the criteria were to reduce the wage bill and the staff, and stay in the Premier League.

"We have a long-term plan and this year it is to stabilise and consolidate on and off the pitch.

"At every successful club, one of the big things is the youth policy and bringing kids through. It has been going for a few years here and I think it is starting to bear fruit.

"But it'll take another two or three years before you really see it come to fruition.

"This time last year, the average age of one team the club had out was 31 and now it's 25 or 26, so things are developing.''

McClaren has confessed to making a "tentative enquiry'' for Manchester United's £7m-rated striker Dwight Yorke.

But he insists he won't cash in on his best players to help finance a major deal.

"I think that's dangerous because then you're getting into asset-stripping,'' he said.

"There are always opportunities to buy special players and my job is to knock on people's doors here and say if I think a player will improve the team.''

With the help of Terry Venables, Boro escaped the drop last season.

But after collecting only three points from the last 15, they are again flirting with relegation.

McClaren admitted: "Outside the top six or eight teams, the first target each season is to reach 40 points and stay in the Premier League - and that is our number one target.

"We're four points better off than at this stage last year.''

But Boro are fourth bottom and only three points off a relegation place going into today's game with Fulham at Craven Cottage, where they are again without leading scorer Alen Boksic.

The Croatian striker, whose last start was in the 3-0 defeat at Newcastle on Boxing Day, picked up a calf strain in training after missing the goalless mid-week FA Cup tie away to Wimbledon with the lingering effects of a virus.

McClaren, however, is hopeful Boksic will be fit for the home game against Bolton a week today.

Colin Cooper is set to come in from the cold at left-back in place of the suspended Franck Queudrue, while midfielder Carlos Marinelli looks to have shaken off the persistent ankle problem which kept out of the Wimbledon clash.

Meanwhile, goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer and centre-back Ugo Ehiogu could also soon be back in contention.

Schwarzer, who underwent groin surgery last month, is set to resume training next week, while McClaren reports Ehiogu is making "very good progress'' in his recovery from a similar problem.

Read more about the Boro here.