Gordon Strachan is nailed on to become the new Middlesbrough manager after Gareth Southgate was sacked on Tuesday, with an announcement expected before 'Boro's trip to Preston on Saturday.

'Boro chairman Steve Gibson revealed to BBC Tees that 52-year-old Strachan, who resigned as Celtic manager in May, is unlikely to have been installed in time to take charge of the club's weekend Deepdale visit.

Strachan's as yet unconfirmed appointment comes after Gareth Southgate was surprisingly 'relieved of his duties' just hours after 'Boro moved to within one point of the Championship summit after a 2-0 victory over Derby on Tuesday.

The former Coventry and Southampton manager took the Saints to the 2003 FA Cup final, and won three consecutive SPL titles with Celtic in a five year spell before stepping down at Parkhead having failed to win the league last term.

The appointment of Strachan would certainly be a welcome one on Teeside, as 'Boro aim to make an immediate return to England's top-flight after relegation last season.

Meanwhile, Gibson explained his decision to part company with Southgate, explaining that he thought the side's strong league position belied the nature of the team's performances.

"When I sat down and considered our start to the season, I felt that the league table was actually more favourable than some of our performances," Gibson said in a statement on the club's official website

"Then I looked at the important games against the teams immediately around us, and took those results into account.

"In general the results and the performances have not been to the level I would have hoped for."

Southgate's former assistants Colin Cooper and Steve Agnew are expected to take charge of 'Boro's clash against Preston at Deepdale on Saturday.