Middlesbrough survival job one of Neil Warnock's toughest assignments as he holds talks on his future at the Riverside Stadium

Boro were 20th in the table and on a crash course towards League One when the veteran manager took the reins at the Riverside Stadium.

Following the mid-week win at Sheffield Wednesday , Boro secured a 17th-placed finish and with it their survival.

“I think it has been the toughest, I can’t think of anything tougher,” said Warnock of his assignment in the north east.

“We only had eight games, so we could only work with the squad that we have got.”

On his talks with Gibson, Warnock added: “We have had this meeting planned from day one.

"I will be speaking to Steve, he is a super guy, he has done everything, not just for the football club but for the town. It is nice to give him something to smile about.”

Middlesbrough’s survival wasn’t secure heading into the final game of the campaign and they had been as low as 21st with five games of the season to play.

Consecutive defeats against Queens Park Rangers and Hull City gave Warnock some sleepless nights, but he admits he has never questioned the players’ attitude.

He added: “There are a lot of things that go through your mind but as a manager you haven’t got time to dwell.

“We have been in it before, we were aware of what was needed, we asked the lads to give us everything and they have done. Sometimes it has not been enough but it has not been for the lack of trying.

“They are a good group of lads, they just need leadership and three or four players down the spine of the team.”

Warnock feels Boro need to be challenging at the other end of the Championship, adding: "A club like this should be successful, they shouldn't be down there fighting to stay in the league.

"You have got to be going for promotion and there is no reason why Middlesbrough aren't."