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'100 percent backing' Middlesbrough's Robson says he's not quitting
LONDON (Reuters) -- Middlesbrough manager Bryan Robson said on Saturday he had no intention of quitting after the struggling English Premier League side suffered a fifth successive defeat. The former England captain also dismissed Saturday newspaper reports that the club might send out a "rescue call" for former England manager Terry Venables to come and assist Robson on the coaching side. Middlesbrough lost 1-0 to Arsenal and entered the relegation zone after having goalkeeper Mark Crossley sent off in the 24th minute at the Riverside Stadium for bringing down Swedish striker Patrik Ljungberg. Robson said that, despite everyone asking him about his position, he was secure at the club. "I've got 100 percent backing from the chairman; I have no intentions of quitting on the job," he said. "I think it showed today that the players are well behind me and if the players play like that then I know the fans are behind us. "As soon as you get a bad run, people get the knife sharpened and they stick it in your back. But all I am going to do is just get on with my job and I'm sure that will turn it around at the club." Robson said that despite the defeat he had been impressed by his injury-hit side's performance. "Even with 10 men I thought the boys were tremendous with the work rate and commitment that they gave the fans and that's why the fans were brilliant today as well and kept behind the team right up to the last minute. "I've just said to them [the players] after the game that if they give me that commitment and work rate in the rest of the games this season then we'll have no problems." Tough taskMiddlesbrough's next match is at league leaders Manchester United, Robson's former club, next weekend before it returns home for two matches against third-placed Leicester City and second from last Bradford City. "Those are must-win games for us, its as simple as that," said Robson. "You've got to start picking your points up in your home games and we haven't done that so far this season." The Mirror newspaper on Saturday reported that Middlesbrough would approach Venables officially if the situation had not improved by the time of the Bradford match. The Express reported that chairman Steve Gibson had said Middlesbrough was reviewing the club's strategy and "asking difficult questions of one another." "We have a strategy and as of now we are reviewing it," Gibson was quoted as saying. "It is not something I can go public with as the dignity of the people within the club must remain. "While he is not unsackable, Bryan's future is with Middlesbrough," he added. "During the remaining two and a half years of his contract I believe Bryan can win us a trophy." Robson said the speculation around him and about an assistant was not new. "This came about last season when we had a bad run at the Christmas period," he said. "It's not true," Robson added of the Venables report.
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
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