Chairman Targets More Silverware
STEVE GIBSON is aiming to follow the most successful decade in Boro's history with even greater achievements, he told BBC Tees first Fans Forum of the season.
Under his guidance the club have won a first trophy, reached a European final and established themselves as in the Premier League.
But the chairman is hungry for more silverware and he believes manager Gareth Southgate is the man to deliver it.
"Over the next five years we want to win another cup and we want to be in Europe more often than not," he told supporters at the event, held in the Riverside Stadium's Middlehaven Suite last night.
"We want to make the next ten years more successful than the last ten. We want to continue making and breaking new records for the club."
Gibson said he will not be tempted to follow the growing number of rival clubs who have been sold off to mega-rich foreign investors.
And he is confident that the locally owned and run strategy is the right one for Boro both in the long and short term.
"I'm not concerned with what other clubs do but right now we're in 12th place in the Premier League and that tells me we are competing," he said.
"We've spent £23m on new players this summer. When I'm asked about the club everything seems to be about money, money, money.
"But we've so much else going for us, like the Academy.
"You don't have to spend millions on players. Players like Julio Arca and Luke Young are proving great value for money."
As for falling attendances, Gibson believes performances on the pitch are the key to bringing back the missing fans.
He said: "We've got to let our football do the talking. We've got to give Gareth the patience and time to build a team that can bring back the fans."
The full show is available to listen to and watch online on the BBC Tees website.
