TERRY VENABLES last night admitted his rescue mission at Middlesbrough is likely to be his last job in football.

The former England coach, out of the game for nearly two years since the end of a controversial spell at Crystal Palace, will on Friday begin plotting Boro's relegation escape route.

First Venables must fulfil his obligation to help Des Lynam host ITV's Champions' League coverage this week.

It was Venables' TV deal which scuppered Boro's hopes of installing him as manager on a two-and-a-half year contract.

Talks broke down last week when Boro insisted his on-screen commitments were "incompatible'' with the role they wanted him to perform.

But Boro chairman Steve Gibson reopened negotiations over the weekend after deciding to take Venables up on an offer to help out beleaguered boss Bryan Robson until the end of the season.

Venables, 57, has been appointed as first-team coach and Robson retains the title of manager.

But Venables will have the final say on team selection as Boro, joint bottom of the Premiership, battle to preserve their top-flight status.

Venables, who describes the task as one of the toughest he has faced, admitted: "This could well be my last job in the game. I doubt very much I'll be a club manager again.

"People talk about the 'other things' I do. But the 'other things' are my job now. Football has become the 'other thing'.

"I thought last season my last opportunity to do a job like this again may have gone.

"But this year I seem to have become popular again! There's been quite a lot of activity on the phone.

"When Bryan called I thought that this might be an adventure I couldn't refuse.

"I've blown the cobwebs off the tracksuit and I hope it's going to fit again!

"The training facilities at this club are sensational - the best I've seen.

"It will take me a good four to six weeks to find out about the players and assess them.

"I'll have to lean on Bryan. No one person is going to be on his own up front here to solve this problem.

"Everybody, from the supporters, the players, coaching staff and directors, has to play their part.

"If I hadn't come, Bryan was going to continue until the end of the season and then reassess the situation.

"We're all in this together. Everybody has to take up the challenge. We have to start afresh.

"Things happen that dent confidence, so that's got to be rebuilt because confidence can take you anywhere.

"I think it's possible we'll stay up. Other clubs are pulling out all the stops and it's quite tight.

"Everybody gets down about the sort of situation we're in, but it's not compulsory to be miserable. I think we've got to have some fun, but also know it's a very serious business.

"I'll be speaking to the players and I think they'll get my message.

"I haven't seen Middlesbrough in action this season but I've been watching videos of them for the last week.

"One thing I can see from the videos is that the fans are getting behind the team fantastically. The fans play as big a part as anybody.''

Robson has spent around £35m net in the transfer market and Gibson pledged more funds to aid Boro's fight while Venables is at the club.

But Venables stressed: "Bryan would have the last word on transfers. I will make my recommendations because we must work very closely.

"I'm only in this post for a short time and it wouldn't be completely right for me to have the last word on transfers.

"But I don't see any reason why we can't agree on those things anyway.''

Robson, Venables' right-hand man during Euro '96, said: "I feel we worked well together when we were with England. With Terry's expertise, I think I'm going to learn more from him.

"Terry can come in with fresh ideas. I wanted him here longer than this, but we'd sooner have him for six months than not all.

"It gives me and everyone here a big lift. I know I can talk football with Terry 24 hours a day. We'll bounce ideas of each other.''

Gibson said: "I'm delighted with the arrangement. I think Terry will bring something to our club that we perhaps haven't had. I see it as a big step forward. We all know it's a challenge, but we're going to relish it.''

Gibson refused to confirm whether Robson would resume full control of team affairs when Venables leaves - but insisted his future is with the club.

"We've got to forget about the long-term and secure the short-term,'' said Gibson. "We're not looking any longer than the next six months. We've got to get 40-odd points to secure our place in the Premiership.

"I think Bryan has had six-and-a-half tremendous years at this club and it's very easy to look for a scapegoat when you get bad results.

"Now we can give Bryan the chance to catch his breath, learn from Terry, and come back in the summer refreshed to pick things up again.''

In the meantime, Venables is hoping to emulate fellow former England boss Bobby Robson, who pulled Newcastle clear of relegation trouble last season.

"It would be nice to do the same - Bobby has done a terrific job,'' said Venables, who admits he faces a "tough'' start with Boro in Saturday's derby at Sunderland.

"I'm very happy with my own record in management. I accept criticism and people must have their say. I'm one of the those guys you either like or you don't.''

Robson insisted Venables' arrival would not affect the positions of assistant manager Viv Anderson and current first-team coach Gordon McQueen.

Venables, meanwhile, underlined his commitment to his new job by confirming he would be moving to the North-East.

l Boro striker Alun Armstrong looks set to join Ipswich in an £800,000 deal. The former Stockport player, who cost £1.6m three seasons ago, was yesterday discussing personal terms