THERE is a saying in sport - "Good guys don't win prizes" - which Middlesbrough should heed before it's too late.

While the Boro are in Premier League freefall and fast becoming relegation favourites, we have a manager who constantly says he is satisfied with his team's progress, basing his statements on the fact that, due to his ongoing changes over the past 18 months, his team is playing more attractive football.

The fans cannot understand what is attractive about losing, week in and week out. Looking at the situation of football managers over recent times, Gareth Southgate is fortunate to have a chairman as patient as Steve Gibson and although he may have a future in football, I don't think Middlesbrough can afford to gamble their future on his apprenticeship.

They have to realise that Premier League success depends on what happens today and not what might happen tomorrow.

The one thing currently lacking at Boro is the most vital in management, namely, experience, and that's why the club should act quickly and bring in someone to steady the ship, preferably someone who is not frightened to condemn when necessary and put the priorities in order, which is consolidation first, improvement later.

T Seale, Middlesbrough.