Progress Stalls in Middlesbrough Manager Hunt as Garry Monk and Nigel Pearson Prepare for Interviews

?Middlesbrough chairman Steve Gibson has revealed that the club will step up their search for a new manager this week, after relegation from the Premier League. 

Steve Agnew had been in temporary charge after Aitor Karanka’s departure, with Boro eventually finishing 19th in the Premier League table. 

In the final weeks of the season, Agnew spoke of the moves the club were making to secure a permanent manager, upon their return to the Championship. 

Now, Boro owner Gibson has announced that the club will be stepping up their efforts to find a new manager, but also that there had been some delays in progress during the changes “at all aspects of the club” that Gibson vowed to make over the summer.

Garry Monk, former manager of Swansea, who recently resigned from his past as Leeds boss, is considered a front-runner for the job, but Gibson also wants to hear from former Leicester and Derby boss-and former Boro club captain- Nigel Pearson. 

Pearson brings with him some excellent Championship pedigree, having gained promotion and then a miraculous survival with Leicester City. Unfortunately, Pearson’s latest managerial stint at Derby County at the beginning of this season was disastrous, and the manager’s reputation has taken a knock as a result. 

Delays in talks with Pearson have come due to him being on holiday, but voiced an interest in the Boro job whilst appearing in Goals on Sunday recently. 

Monk, meanwhile, is said to be pondering his next move, after falling agonisingly short of a playoff spot of the Championship’s top , and a playoff spot.

Monk walked out of the role last Thursday, despite the takeover of the club, and liberation of the club from the unpopular Massimo Cellino. 

After such disappointment in Yorkshire, Monk is rightly considering his options, admirably looking to head straight back into management, and sources close to the manager suggest that Monk is very much interested in the Boro job, per ?Gazette Live. 

Monk is also the current bookies’ favourite to take over at Crystal Palace, following the resignation and retirement of Sam Allardyce at the end of the season. 

Interestingly, it is also thought that Gibson wants to interview Agnew, retaining great respect and interest in him, despite picking up just six out of a potential 33 points during his time in charge. 

Despite this poor form, Agnew has received the backing of Boro’s own relegated players in recent weeks, with Ben Gibson, Grant Leadbitter, Patrick Bamford, and local hero Stewart Downing all backing the ability of the Englishman.