A seething Gareth Southgate has launched an astonishing parting shot at his former employers Middlesbrough, after some shocking details about his departure have emerged.

The former Aston Villa stopper was relieved of his duties, bizarrely, after he had just guided his team to a convincing victory over Derby County at The Riverside.

While they didn't top the table in The Championship, nevertheless they were comfortably nestled in amongst the top four, and with the likes of Adam Johnson firing on all cylinders, 'Boro were many people's tips to return to the promised land at the first time of asking.

But it seems this wasn't good enough for chairman Steve Gibson, who decided it was time to part company with the ex-England international.

Strange enough already then - to sack a manager after a home victory with his side sitting just one point from the top of the table - but the plot thickens further.

Southgate revealed that the club's hierarachy told him as he sat there in disbelief, that they had lined up and interviewed Gordon Strachan over a a fortnight ago, to be the next man in charge at The Riverside.

"(Chief executive) Keith (Lamb) was quite open in telling me he had interviewed Gordon Strachan in London for my job more than two weeks earlier, on the night before we beat Reading (October 3)," he told the Mail on Sunday.

"Apparently, I was going to get the sack then but we'd played so well that (chairman) Steve (Gibson) decided he couldn't do it.

"I found it bizarre that Keith should tell me all that. I didn't know whether I should applaud him for being so honest or get angry for taking the mickey."

He went on to reveal his regret at not challenging the decision, but admits that it would have been a fruitless exercise anyway.

"It didn't sink in, it was so unexpected. I was too stunned to mount a defence. I regret now that I didn't say a few things, like the fact we were only one point off the top of the table," he said.

"It wouldn't have changed his mind but it might have made me feel better.