RIDING out the storm that has been Middlesbrough's start to the Championship season should have been the primary objective heading into this weekend's game after the recent international break. But the Boro boss Chris Wilder has been forced to field questions regarding speculation linking him to the vacant job at Bournemouth whilst clarifying there has been no breakdown in his relationship with the club's hierarchy. 

On the pitch, it's hardly been plain sailing so far with results leaving them in the bottom three and the same can be said for this week after reports suggested he was the number one candidate for a move to the south coast.

As much as it is part and parcel of the football world, speculation of this nature could cause friction within certain sections of the club. 

Chairman Steve Gibson has built up a reputation for being a trustworthy owner during his time at the helm who has given managers time in the dugout but there has been a frequent turnover since Boro's relegation to the Championship in 2017 with Wilder being the fifth manager in charge. 

Naturally when things don't appear to be rosy on and off the field, relationships are called into question but the former Sheffield United boss has relayed that he and Gibson are well aware of the improvements that need to be made to Boro's season so far.

When asked about whether his current relationship with the Chairman is still intact, he replied: “100% (our relationship is still fine). I’d be the first to get the phone call and understand either way with whatever is happening. I think that’s the way football always works.

"I spoke to Steve after the Rotherham game and we were disappointed with the result. There were some positives such as the clean sheet and certain parts of it we liked.

"Steve has been in the game long enough as well to know clubs go through little periods like this and you’ve got to fight to come out of the other end. We’ve got committed people at this club that are working.

"We understand there is still a lot of work to be done. We weren’t happy with certain parts of the transfer window that we weren’t successful with, that we need to be successful with going forward, to make the group better and to give us a little bit more quality in key areas and depth.

"That will obviously always affect performances and results. But we’ve had it good here since I came in and this is just the first little period we’re getting questioned and we have to deal with that.

"We puff our chests out, deal with it and take that criticism head on. I always have done individually, and the team has to if we’re going to get better and stronger, which I’m sure we will do.”