MIDDLESBROUGH bosses will take their time as they assess their options in the wake of Tony Pulis’ departure, and are not expected to hold formal interviews for the vacant managerial position this week.

Pulis’ exit was finalised on Friday, with Boro releasing a formal statement confirming the 61-year-old’s contract would not be renewed. Steve Gibson discussed the situation with Pulis in the middle of last week, and the pair agreed a parting of the ways was mutually beneficial.

While there is obvious disappointment at this season’s failure to secure a return to the Premier League, Pulis’ departure offers an opportunity to reassess Boro’s current position and make structural changes to the backroom set-up.

Speaking after Pulis’ exit was confirmed, Gibson admitted Boro “have got to run ourselves differently”, and reiterated his determination to ensure the club comply with the Football League’s Financial Fair Play regulations even though they will not be receiving any parachute payments this summer.

That could necessitate the departure of some senior players, but Gibson wants to bring an end to the recent churn of expensive signings. Instead, he wants to introduce a more strategic, long-term policy of supplementing a handful of carefully-planned signings with emerging talents from the Rockliffe Park academy.

The new model might well result in the appointment of a director of football-type figure, and when he was speaking on Friday, it was interesting that Gibson referred to “deciding who the next coach will be” rather than referring to a manager.

Jonathan Woodgate, who is already a well-respected member of Middlesbrough’s senior coaching staff, would be interested in stepping up to a head coach role, while former Boro defender Michael Reiziger is also understood to be under consideration after gaining a blossoming reputation as the coach of Ajax’s second team. Reiziger also has experience of being a caretaker manager in the Eredivisie.

Aitor Karanka has put himself forward as a potential candidate, but at this stage, a Rockliffe return for the Spaniard is regarded as extremely unlikely.

“There isn’t a timescale,” explained Gibson. “The most important thing is that we get it right. I’ve had calls from agents and managers, both in and out of work, and I’ll handle all that in my own time and in a timescale that’s appropriate for me and the club.”

The Boro hierarchy are confident the lack of a manager will not hinder their summer recruitment plans, although the Teessiders face a battle over Dutch winger Sheraldo Becker, who is one of their early close-season targets.

Boro sent a senior scouting delegation to The Hague earlier this month to watch Becker play in Den Haag’s 6-2 win over Willem II.

The 24-year-old is out of contract this summer, and having turned down Den Haag’s offer of a new deal, is expected to leave Holland for either England or Spain.

Boro have outlined their interest, but a number of other Championship clubs have also approached Becker’s representatives to try to set up a free transfer.

Leeds, Sheffield Wednesday and Swansea have also made inquiries, while Derby County would be interested if they were to miss out on promotion when they face Aston Villa in the Championship play-off final next Monday.

Pulis outlined what he regards as the weaknesses in the current Boro squad when he met Gibson last week, and a lack of natural wide players is sure to have been one of the issues discussed. Pulis tried to sign a number of wingers during his 18 months on Teesside, but was left frustrated as a succession of proposed moves failed to come to fruition.

As well as tracking Becker, Boro’s recruitment team are also understood to have a long-standing interest in Portsmouth winger Jamal Lowe.

Lowe has been one of the stars of the League One season, and is expected to leave Fratton Park in the wake of Portsmouth’s play-off semi-final defeat to Sunderland.

The 24-year-old spoke of a desire to play at a higher level in the wake of his side’s play-off exit on Thursday, and Pompey will be tempted to sell after missing out on a place in the Championship.

Mo Besic will not be returning to the Riverside after his loan spell expired, but the Bosnian midfielder has been told to look for a new club.

Everton boss Marco Silva has told Besic he does not feature in his plans at Goodison Park, and is also looking to move on Yannick Bolasie, who turned down a proposed loan move to Middlesbrough last summer in order to join Aston Villa.