McQueen back at Boro

At a time when there is a trend to develop the scouting systems around the country, chairman Steve Gibson has made moves to bolster Boro's own recruitment methods.

Having confirmed that former Newcastle chief scout David Mills has become part of the talent- spotting team at the Riverside Stadium, Boro have also brought Gordon McQueen back to the club in a similar role.

McQueen, axed as first team coach on Teesside when Steve McClaren brought in his own men in 2001, will now work on a full-time basis alongside the senior team's chief scout Dave Leadbeater and Mills.

The triumvirate have been given the remit to scour the globe for players that Boro should attract this summer and beyond - provided they feel the first team positions in need of improving can't be covered through promoting from within.

It was suggested yesterday that Cardiff City defender Roger Johnson will be one of the first targeted by the new scouting network, while Sporting Braga's Austrian striker Roland Linzon the radar.

And McQueen, who has stayed in regular contact with the club since leaving seven years ago, is looking ahead to trying to help manager Gareth Southgate leading Boro back up the table.

"First and foremost the priority will be to get the club value for money in the transfer market and help Gareth become the excellent manager I am convinced he will become," said McQueen, who was made reserve team coach in 1994 by Bryan Robson before he stepped up to become first team coach.

"It will be a matter of identifying players that improve the club in general. David Mills and I have been around long enough to know what's required for the Premier League and I'm looking forward to speaking with Gareth about the sort of profile he requires."

Gibson has also explored the possibility of bringing in another of Sky Sports' pundits, Chris Kamara, to improve the scouting network in place under Leadbeater.

The former Boro midfielder, however, wants to continue with his media work.

Middlesbrough's global contacts led to the January swoop for the £12.7m man, Afonso Alves, and the hope is that the appointments of McQueen and Mills in full-time positions will lead to further top players arriving, albeit at a lower price.

"As a result of the new set-up, greater attention will be given to the 15-18 age-groups in which the recruitment of Academy players needs to correlate with the future requirements of the first-team squad," said Lamb, who will continue to take charge of the negotiation process.

"Gordon and Dave will ensure they have a good idea of the quality of players we have in different positions within that age range to enable them to better assess what talent is coming through and where we potentially need to strengthen.

"Along with Dave Leadbeater, they will look throughout Europe and beyond for players who will benefit the first team. Sometimes we need to bring in readymade first team players, but we are also looking to improve our ability to bring in players with the potential to develop into the highest quality under the guidance of our coaching staff.

"We are broadening our horizons, which is something we have to do if we want to compete with the best."

Mills, meanwhile, has revealed the satisfaction he feels for being part of the Middlesbrough pay roll again, some 29 years after the former striker left for West Brom in a record-breaking £500,000 deal.

"I never dreamed that I would be back at Middlesbrough," said Mills, who had been chief scout at Newcastle until Sam Allardyce rang the changes to his backroom.

"But I'm excited about the prospect of working with Gareth, Gordon and Dave as we set about identifying players who can take the club forward, and not just for the short term."

While McQueen, Mills and Leadbeater will deal mainly with Southgate, the other two members of the recruitment team, Ron Bone and Martin Carter, will continue to liaise with Academy director Dave Parnaby.