Gibson has vowed to back Strachan in the transfer market

Middlesbrough chairman Steve Gibson believes his club should be among the Championship favourites this season.

Gordon Strachan's side finished 11th last season, eight points short of the play-off spots.

Gibson told the club website: "Last year I thought the football was poor and I thought some players let us down.

"I think we should be able to give Gordon the transfer support he is asking for and I would think we'd be favourites to go up if we do that."

He added: "We do have funds available. This season we might be the best resourced club in the Championship.

"We have specific targets in certain positions. We're looking for strikers and we need more centre-backs.

"Keith Lamb has been very busy and has made some significant progress."

Gordon was disappointed in some of the players he found here Middlesbrough chairman, Steve Gibson

Strachan replaced Gareth Southgate as manager at the Riverside in October last year.

"The positive is that we got Gordon in and we gave him six months to assess the coaching and playing staff and make the decisions that need to be made going forward," said Gibson.

"Gordon was disappointed in some of the players he found here. He thought they were better players than they proved to be.

"He was surprised with the fitness levels. He said, 'What I'm going do is run their socks off. Some will go with it and be able to handle it, while others won't be able to handle it and will suffer the consequences."

And Gibson is convinced he has the right man at the helm to lead Middlesbrough back to the Premiership.

"Gordon is very strategic in his thinking. He reminds me of Bryan Robson in that Bryan would work every hour God sends," he said.

"Gordon is first in and last out. Detail is everything to him."

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