AGNEW’S READY TO BOSS IT

STEVE AGNEW is a potential manager in demand. Middlesbrough’s assistant boss was wanted by Steve Bruce when he was appointed by Aston Villa. They had previously worked together when Bruce was boss at Hull, where Agnew worked for two years before joining Boro. The long-term plan was for Agnew, 51, to sign a five-year deal at Villa with the possibility of eventually succeeding Bruce. But Boro fought off Villa’s approach for their highly-rated No.2 and Bruce made Colin Calderwood his assistant at the former European Cup-winning club. Agnew, therefore, has continued as Middlesbrough boss Aitor Karanka’s right-hand man. And that suggests that Boro chairman Steve Gibson sees him as a potential manager if Karanka should leave – and there have been suggestions that could happen. Agnew (left) has twice taken charge of Boro in a caretaker capacity, the last time being for one match last season when Karanka missed a game at Charlton after what was understood to be a dressing room bust-up. Boro’s assistant boss was a midfielder who made his name at Barnsley and his subsequent clubs included another North West side – Sunderland. THERE was a feeling in the briefly game that Swansea Bob Bradley made American of the club’s manager because Levien and US owners, Jason true. Bradley Steve Kaplan. Not by chairman was appointed it was the Huw Jenkins and and Kaplan decision of Levien Paul to replace him with side play Clement, whose at Manchester City today. PAUL HETHERINGTON