Venus will be given chance to impress – Gibson

Boro start life without Mowbray in tonight’s televised home game with Doncaster Rovers, with Mark Venus managing on a caretaker basis.

Gibson insists that wretched results in 2013, which have seen the Teessiders win just five Championship matches out of 33, forced his hand and he is urging everyone to look forwards, starting with tonight’s game with Rovers.

Boro have already sold over 17,000 tickets for the game, with many fans taking advantage of a cut-price ticket offer in a game marketed as ‘Spirit of Teesside’ to celebrate the best of the local area.

Mowbray was brought up in Redcar, while Venus is also a Teessider, albeit from Hartlepool.

Like the axed 49-year-old, he is a boyhood Boro fan and Gibson has promised to give him his full backing and the chance to stake a claim to be the next full-time manager.

Mowbray will forever be an iconic figure among Boro fans, along with Gibson, for the role he played in helping the club stage a remarkable renaissance from near oblivion in the summer of 1986.

Boro’s chairman said: “It (Mowbray’s sacking) was taken on the basis of our performances in this calendar year. Tony is a great man and I love him to bits.

“I have great respect for him, but we are in a results-driven business and the results this calendar year have been totally unacceptable.

“We are going to give Mark every chance. The search for a new manager will continue and we hope Mark will put his case to us.”

Figuring prominently in the betting to succeed Mowbray are Mike Phelan, former assistant-manager to Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United, Ian Holloway, Alex McLeish and Venus.

Gibson insists Boro still represent a big draw to potential managers and has bridled at suggestions they will struggle to attract top-class candidates due to their league position and a perception that the spending days at the Teesside club are long gone.

Gibson said: “That’s a nonsense.

“Boro are a vibrant, healthy club will excellent facilities and as much ambition as ever.”

Loan signing Daniel Ayala is set to make his debut tonight against Doncaster.