McClaren out Benitez in, Freedman out and Karanka goes AWOL or does he? The football manager merry go-round is currently at full throttle.
Newcastle's handling of their managerial affairs was nothing short of shambolic and yet throughout it all Steve McClaren behaved with the utmost professionalism. Can the same be said for Aitor Karanka? Middlesbrough's Spanish manager allegedly stormed out of a players' meeting and was absent from their 2-0 defeat at relegation threatened Charlton Athletic yesterday. His relationship with certain players is supposedly almost at breaking point and speculation suggests that Stewart Downing, a favourite of club chairman Steve Gibson is one of those players. However, after a poor run of form it would not be difficult to make a case that Downing shouldn't be in the current starting eleven
Whatever has happened at the Boro it needs resolving and resolving quickly. In a quote attributed to BBC Radio Tees sport it was reported that
"It is inconceivable that Aitor Karanka will return to manage Middlesbrough."and yet the majority of fans want him back. Gibson is due to meet Karanka within the next 48 hours. Who will be in charge for Boro's crucial game against Hull City on Friday will no doubt be decided as a result of that meeting.
