MIDDLES-BROUGH Football Club settled for second best when they appointed defender Gareth Southgate as their new manager, it has emerged.

Details have just been released about another contender - but chairman Steve Gibson felt John Boileau was too good for the North-East team.

In a light-hearted exchange of letters, Mr Gibson let down the 25-year-old gently before appointing Southgate to replace England assistant Steve McClaren.

Mr Boileau unrealistically applied for the job after compiling a list of things to do before he is 30.

Among the list was an aspiration to apply for a football manager's job, listing vast experience on a computer game in his CV.

He wrote: "The tactical side of football has always been very important to me, which is demonstrated through my success on the game Football Manager 2005.

"I have managed clubs including Nuneaton Borough, Doncaster and even Chelsea."

He adds: "I would be willing to start for about £80,000 per year which, let's face it, is very reasonable considering some of the salaries in the world of football."

The office worker, from Nuneaton, in Warwickshire, has already started tackling things on his "list to do".

He has had lunch at Claridges, bought one hundred thousand shares in a company, maintained his own website, compiled his personal top 20 album list and bet £50 on a ten to one shot.

In an official letter of reply, chairman Steve Gibson says: "You were of course the outstanding candidate but, after careful consideration, we decided against your appointment.

"Quite frankly, we were of the opinion that your tenure with us would have been short lived, as your undoubted talent would result in one of the big European clubs seeking your services.

"We consider it a sign of our progress that someone of your status should consider us."

Mr Boileau told The Northern Echo: "Middlesbrough Football Club have been brilliant. I didn't want to upset them.

"The website was designed with my mates in mind and normally only gets 20 or so hits. But recently, the news about the job application has spread and everyone has been looking at the ace reply from Steve Gibson."

Included on his list of things still to tackle, Mr Boileau wants to apply for a job that pays more than £100,000 a year, bake a chocolate cake and get a part as an extra in a film or TV show.