Jonathan Woodgate outlines his plans for Middlesbrough

The four senior figures discussed Woodgate's appointment as head coach - and the radical new philosophy they are trying to introduce.

This is a transcript of the televised section of the press conference:

Neil Bausor

We had a huge interest in the position and as a club we've conducted a very robust and thorough process, talking to numerous candidates across the UK and Europe

After a series of meetings with Jonathan, it became very clear he was the outstanding candidate to head up the role.

We're delighted to confirm the coaching team of Robbie Keane, Leo Percovich and Danny Coyne.

Jonathan has got a very clear philosophy about his style of play, supported by the coaching staff and that absolutely aligns with the club's vision of where we want to go to develop a new identity

Adrian will give you a few insights into where we want to take that.

Adrian Bevington

As a club, we're really clear we're looking to build a club identity, a style of play that is recognisable as Middlesbrough Football Club with a clear philosophy.

It gives us a golden thread that will run right through the club and all the age groups, which Jonathan is passionate about.

It's a model that will ensure we recruit and develop players who fit that playing style consistently.

We want to see a fast, attacking style of play which I'll let Jonathan talk more about.

It's very exciting with the coaches in the room and Craig Liddle, our head of the Academy, that these guys will be the architects of the new playing style.

It's important that we're introducing younger players, part of this football club's history is the academy and we're committed to that.

It's about being brave with the blooding of our Academy players.

Of course we want to be smart in the transfer market but it's important to say we do already have a lot of detailed knowledge in the organisation of players across the UK and Europe and we're continually identifying new targets.

It's going to be a joined up strategy right across the club.

We have a culture of learning what is good practice across the football business, sport and outside so we can take the best parts and develop for ourselves.

Improving players through good coaching, developing stronger relationships with clubs domestically and internationally and delivering a style of play that excites the fans: doing everything to the highest professional standard.

It's a long term plan and we're really exciting about building something that is sustainable and that everyone connected to the club can buy into.

Q: Jonathan, given you're from the area, played here, been on coaching staff, how big is this?

JW: It's a huge honour, I've been a Middlesbrough fan since I was six years old and my father used to take me to Ayresome Park.

I'd like to thank the chairman, Neil and Adrian for giving me the opportunity to manage this fantastic football club. Like I say it's a club I've supported since I was six.

I've been through all the games from Ayresome Park to the Riverside, cup finals, I've been everywhere.

I'm just honoured to be the head coach.

Q: How great is the challenge?

JW: Everything in life is a challenge. We've got a fantastic squad, we can be right up there. I want to really promote the youth, we've got players in there who can play in the first team. We've got players who can play now and players who can play in the future.

I know the club inside out from Under-12s to the Under-23s to the first team. It's important we play that style all the way through the club.

Q: What will be your brand of football?

Firstly, I want to pass the ball.

Pass the ball, keep the ball, I want players to run with the ball, it's important that when you lose the ball you win it back as quickly as possible.

Obviously don't go gung-ho, there are times to press and to know when to press.

That's my philosophy, that's what I want to do. I want to win games scoring goals. If you look at this league now, you go up by scoring goals.

If you don't, you won't go up.

If you look at my backroom team: Leo, Danny and Robbie, we'll have that in abundance, especially with Robbie by my side.

Q: Leo aside, people will look at your coaching staff and say there is not a lot of experience. You’ve obviously got the connection with Robbie from the Leeds United days, what is your thinking behind bringing this group together?

JW: I think it brings a bit of everything. With Leo, he’s been in the Karanka regime, where we had a lot of success, and I think that’s important. I think Aitor Karanka did a fantastic job at this football club, and he taught me a lot. Leo was fundamental to that. I’ve known Danny for a couple of years now, and what I get from Danny is that his detail is second to none. He knows the keepers inside out in the football club, and he knows how to make them better. He knows every age group of keeper, and with Robbie, we all know Robbie Keane and that he offers a lot. Can you imagine the young players at this football club learning from Robbie Keane? We’ve got a forward on our books, and that hasn’t always happened at this football club. It’s great that he’s with us.

Q: Looking at the squad for the season ahead, having spoken to Neil and Steve, will funds be made available? What is your transfer policy?

JW: Well, we’ve got Financial Fair Play guidelines, and we have to abide by that. The chairman has said that and made it clear. We’ll do that, and we’ll see what comes available. We want to recruit young players, fresh, vibrant players with a hunger and a desire to improve. That’s the most important thing for me, and me and my coaches can improve these players. Nowadays, you get coaches who think a 29-year-old player is finished, he can’t learn any more. Well, we’ll do that. We’ll be showing that you can improve these players.

Q: Steve, you’ve got a track record of giving young, unproven coaches a chance, and with some degree of success in Middlesbrough’s past. What do you see in Jonathan Woodgate that has inspired this appointment?

SG: Well, first of all, I’ve known Jonathan for a long time. We’ve talked a lot in the past. Jonathan is not an inexperienced coach – he did a terrific job here. He’s been here for five years, and he was here as a player. I know the influence he had in the dressing room as a player. The discussions that we’ve had, I haven’t got enough time in the day to go through them. But there’s something about him. He’s different, and when we’ve talked about the style of play, we’re totally aligned. What’s excited me is the willingness of these three lads to come and join Jonathan. Leo, I love to bits, Danny has been here in the past and what can we say about Robbie? I think it’s fantastic we’ve been able to attract someone of his calibre to this football club. So we’re quite excited. We’re probably looking at maybe another addition or two on the coaching side, but we want to just let this settle. We think we have got a strong squad, and we will do our utmost to support Jonathan where he thinks we’re a little bit weak.

Q: Speaking to fans this morning, the one concern is the perception of that lack of experience. Do you understand that, and what would you say to allay their fears?

SG: Well, there’s a lot of people with experience, you’ve got to have the ability to use it. A lot of people can have experience, and not have the ability to use it. What I’ve got from this bunch is enthusiasm and unbelievable experience. Look at his experience, and his, and his. Football is quite a basic game, but it becomes complex because we make it complex. I’m just very happy to have these four here, supplemented by Neil and Adrian. It feels right. I’ve got a hunch about this I hope.

Q: Two years ago, you had Garry Monk here and backed him heavily in the transfer market, and made no secret about the fact that this club wants to be back in the Premier League. You’re still in the Championship, so with the season ahead and this coaching staff in place, what would represent success for you?

SG: I’m not going to put that type of pressure on. These four have just come together. It’s a season of change. There’s a lot of change going on at this football club, and with change comes risk. This club isn’t risk averse – he isn’t risk averse with the way he sets up his team. But one thing we’re going to have to be is patient. We’re talking about bringing youngsters in and they’re going to make mistakes. We’re going to make mistakes. That inexperience that you’ve just talked about, it is there. But we’ve got time, and we will be patient. What we all want to see is progress on the pitch, and progress off the pitch.

Q: We heard Jonathan mention the Financial Fair Play rules there. That being said, if you do have the ability to back the manager in the transfer market, will you?

SG: Of course we will, yes. We have a history of doing that don’t we?

Q: One of the gripes last season was the style of play. The message seems to be that this is going to be something different?

SG: The past is the past and we can’t change that – what we can do is look forward. I think we’ve made it absolutely clear but talking about something is one thing, actually implementing it is another. We will do our best to implement it and Jonathan is absolutely clear in the way he wants to play.

Q: Academy, make better use?

SG: “I'm sure we can, I think we have used it very well in the past, I think we can use it more so in the future.

“For me, the best Academy in the world is on the pitch and to get people on the pitch playing is the most important thing and schoolboy football, or boys football, is a complete different animal to senior football, it really is.”

Q: Finances are tight was was the thinking 'it's time for a re-set'?

SG: “When you say finances are tight I'm not quite sure about that but what I am quite sure about is we have rules called Financial Fair Play and off the pitch it's important every rule (is followed). If the rule is not going to be followed (then) don't have it and if the rule is there, if we have have a centre half who picks the ball up in the penalty area I don't expect the referee to ignore it.

“If a player deceives the referee I don't expect that to be ignored. And I don't expect the EFL and other clubs to ignore Financial Fair Play. It's there, it's a rule, it's an important rule, it needs to be followed and if it's not followed sanctions must be taken against those clubs that cheat.”

Q: How much can you achieve in a three year contract?

JW: “Well massively. I'll impose it on the training pitch day-in, day-out and it's important that we have high standards at this football club.

“Like today, the press conference started at 12.30, it didn't start at 12.31 and there were a few journalists who were late.

“It starts when it starts and that's the standards that we will be setting throughout the football club and that's with the players as well.

“They are the main ones, if someone is late it won't be tolerated, it's a simple as that. Renew, fresh page.”

Q: Will being here already help with the transition?

JW: “I know every single player from U-12s to first team, I know the club inside out.

“I know what needs to change, I know what needs to keep going in the right direction.”

Q: Bit more of a honeymoon period?

JW: “No I don't think I will to be honest with you. I'll have to earn that without a doubt.

“We need to get more fans into the Riverside Stadium, that is without a doubt, but we need to play the football to get them in there, it's simple.

“If we are playing attacking football, scoring goals week in week out I know this Boro crowd will come back, 100%.”

Q: How much work will need to be done in the transfer market?

JW: “Well we'll structure that and go through that as a group and we'll see what areas need to be strengthened, we've got a good solid foundation, especially through the spine of the team.

“We've got some good players and we'll look to do that.”

Q: You'll have learned a lot from T Pulis?

JW: “The grounding I had under Tony Pulis, I couldn't have done this job without his guidance and the way he was with me. Honestly he was fantastic, a superb man, a really good solid man and the chairman would say the same.

“We all have our different ways and philosophies of playing football, it can differ with different coaches.

“If you look at the coaches I've worked under before, with a Bobby Robson - a different style, with a Venables – a different style, with a Redknapp – a different style, with an O'Leary – a different style. They are all different styles so whatever I want to do I will try to implement that on the football pitch.”

Q: Advantage knowing what Boro fans like?

JW: “It's not just Boro fans I think it's what every fan in the country wants to see isn't it? Attacking football? When you give it away get it back as quick as you can. Scoring goals. It's not just Boro fans it's fans all over the world want to see attacking, fresh, vibrant players with a desire and an endeavour to do as well as they can.”

Q: How will you feel when you walk out at the Riverside for first game?

JW: “I'll be the proudest man, put it like that. A real proud man.”