Middlesbrough fans react after major Michael Carrick decision – ‘Bloody relief’
Rumours have long been circulating about Michael Carrick’s position as Middlesbrough manager, and the former Manchester United midfielder has finally been informed about his future.
Boro missed out on the Championship play-offs at the end of last season, finishing 10th in the league, four points off Bristol City in sixth.
Carrick’s side won just one of their final six games of the campaign, as their form dropped off a cliff at the crucial moment.
The 43-year-old took over at the Riverside back in October 2022 with Middlesbrough down in 21st, hauling them to a fourth place finish by the end of that season, before they were defeated in the play-offs by Coventry.
However, the former England international failed to guide the Teeside club to a top-six finish in either of the last two campaigns, missing out by just four points on both occasions.
Carrick sacked by Middlesbrough
After over a month of deliberation, Middlesbrough announced on Wednesday (4 June) afternoon that Carrick has left his role as manager of the club.
In a short club statement, Boro confirmed that assistant coaches Jonathan Woodgate and Graeme Carrick will also depart, along with the former Man United man.
Football Insider exclusively revealed on Tuesday (3 June), that Carrick’s future at Middlesbrough was going to be decided imminently.
The Championship season ended at the start of May, with Coventry beating the North-East club 2-0 on the final day, and fans were becoming agitated with the lack of clarity around the situation but chairman Steve Gibson has finally confirmed the rumours.
Carrick decision sparks relief
A large majority of the Middlesbrough fan base were beginning to lose their patience with Carrick, as the Englishman’s side failed to string together a run of consistent results.
Uncertainty began after five consecutive losses over January and February, and the Teeside club’s poor end-of-season form sapped the rest of the belief from much of the Boro faithful.
After the announcement, a number of supporters voiced their agreement with the decision, with one fan calling it “a bloody relief” that the former central midfielder had been removed from his position.
However, not all Middlesbrough fans are content with seeing Carrick go, and some supporters were worried about who will come in to replace him.