GORDON STRACHAN will look to make Celtic’s former goalkeeper coach Jim Blyth his next backroom appointment after taking no time to start a summer of change at Middlesbrough.

Less than 24 hours after ending the season with a 2-0 defeat at Leicester City, the Boro boss has announced that three members of the coaching staff which he inherited from the Gareth Southgate era have left the club.

First team coach Colin Cooper was always the most likely candidate to be replaced after becoming an increasingly peripheral part under the new regime and confirmation of his departure arrived yesterday.

But goalkeeper coach Stephen Pears and reserve team boss Martin Scott have also been relieved of their duties, meaning Strachan will now be working on deals for replacements.

Middlesbrough chief executive Keith Lamb said: “The manager wishes to make changes as we plan for a sustained promotion campaign next season and, as a consequence, the difficult decision to terminate the contracts of Colin, Stephen and Martin has been made.”

The developments are a further indication of the trust Lamb and chairman Steve Gibson have in Strachan, having previously insisted on keeping the backroom intact following the October sacking of Southgate.

Now, after months of working alongside Cooper and Co, Strachan wants to bring in his own men to work alongside his assistant Garry Pendrey and Steve Agnew, who will remain part of the team.

Strachan has always been keen to team up with a number of his old colleagues from Celtic, where he succeeded in winning three Scottish Premier League titles alongside Pendrey.

And almost certainly Pears, promoted to first team goalkeeper from the Academy ranks in November 2007, will be replaced by former Bhoys goalkeeper coach Blyth. It would also be no surprise if Ray Clarke, who operated as his chief scout at Parkhead, joins the Middlesbrough pay-roll.

Blyth was also Strachan’s goalkeeper coach during his time in charge at Coventry and the 55-year-old, a former player for Preston, Coventry and Birmingham, has been on numerous scouting missions on behalf of the Boro boss over the last few months.

It always seemed inevitable that Strachan would eventually make changes to the coaching team he inherited and, with a pre-season ahead, he feels this is ideal timing.

It is a sad end for former Middlesbrough defender Cooper, who was named Southgate’s first team coach in December 2006 after bring promoted after spells working with the Academy and the reserves.

It is unclear who will now take charge of the reserves team following Scott’s departure, although Agnew – who has performed in that role before – is in the frame.

Scott, a former manager of Hartlepool, has been leading the Middlesbrough second-string since Southgate asked him to step up from his role with the Academy in the summer of 2008.

Yesterday’s developments are just the first phase of Strachan’s summer of change, with numerous new players expected to arrive and many could leave.

One player who he wants to stay is Celtic defender Stephen McManus, although his future is unclear until a new manager has been confirmed to take over at Parkhead.

Neil Lennon, also a candidate to join Strachan’s backroom team, has been operating as the Bhoys’ caretaker boss, but he is not expected to be handed the reins on a full-time basis.

And that means McManus, who has returned to Glasgow after a successful few months on loan at the Riverside, must wait to learn whether he will be moving on or that he still has a future at the club he supported as a boy.

McManus said: “I have no idea what happens. I have never been on loan before so I don’t know what the scenario is. What I do know is that I’ve really enjoyed my time down here, it’s really opened my eyes to life outside Glasgow.

“It’s been first class. Whether I go back to Celtic, somewhere else or I stay here, I’ll be playing with a spring in my step and it’s because of this club.”