‘Boro ticked all the boxes’

NEW Middlesbrough manager Garry Monk believes the club “tick all the boxes” he was looking for and is targeting an immediate return to the Premier League following last season’s relegation.

Monk has joined Boro on a three-year contract just over two weeks after leaving Leeds following his one-season stay at Elland Road, where he just missed out on a play-off place.

The 38-year-old was expected to remain at Leeds beyond the end of the season but talks broke down following Andrea Radrizzani’s takeover, which led to Monk resigning.

However, the former Swansea boss is delighted to take charge at the Riverside Stadium and believes the foundations are in place for a promotion push despite a disappointing season in the top flight last year.

Monk said: “I became a manager out of a job and obviously I’m ambitious and want to be working and find that right challenge.

“Speaking to the chairman Steve Gibson especially and all the guys at the club, it was that ambition and challenge that ticked all the boxes I was looking for.

“Everything I wanted in terms of the challenge I wanted was clear with Middlesbrough.”

Gibson has spoken of his desire to “smash” the Championship next season as Boro look to make their stay outside the top flight as short as possible.

If the club manage to keep hold of the majority of their players, and with the possibility of money being available for new signings, then expectations will be high that Boro can bounce back at the first attempt.

Monk said: “That is the objective. There’s no getting away from that.”

Diego Costa is looking for a move.