Monk aims for harmony at Riverside
GARRY MONK insists his No.1 priority as Middlesbrough boss is banishing any dressing-room unrest.
Key men Stewart Downing, Ben Gibson and George Friend all hinted at the emergence of splits in the squad during Aitor Karanka’s reign.
The Spaniard was axed in March as Boro slid towards relegation, but caretaker boss Steve Agnew failed to save them from the drop.
Uruguay playmaker Gaston Ramirez, expected to leave this summer, rocked the Riverside boat in January when he attempted to force a move to Leicester.
He was frozen out of the first team for the final month of the season after a senseless sending-off at Bournemouth.
Winger Downing, who had a training-ground bust-up with Karanka, spoke of a need to “move players on who don’t want to be here and bring in people who do’’.
Centre-back Gibson stressed that “it takes 11 people to be working their socks off and pulling in the right direction’’.
And left-back Friend admitted he was “disappointed with a few things in the dressing room. There have been a few issues’’.
But former Swansea boss Monk, who has taken charge on a three-year contract after quitting Leeds, is determined to create harmony as he attempts to get back to the top flight.
Monk said: “The players aren’t back yet, but all the situations linked with the first team are for me to assess and make the sure the environment is right for every player to work in.
“That’s part of the process I go through, but there are a lot more facets to it than just that.
“No.1 for me is that the environment the players work in has to be the best possible and has to be the right culture.
“That’s something I’m very big on and something I’ve always done in the past and will do at this club.
“It will be identifying anything that can help that environment to grow and making sure it’s the right culture so, for sure, all of those things will be in hand.’’
Monk added: “It’s very early days. We’re going through a process right now of being around and getting a feel for the club. Then we’ll be with the players and making sure things grow from there.’’