New boss must hit the ground running... and then keep going

MICHAEL Carrick is not the first Middlesbrough manager to start his reign like a house on fire - and then gradually lose his grip.

- ERIC PAYLOR

It doesn’t matter how good you are when you start the job, you inevitably have a sell-by date.

Bruce Rioch, Lennie Lawrence and arguably Tony Mowbray are among those who made an initial massive impact only to find the going eventually become tough.

All of the club's older fans not only revered Rioch at the time of the reign, but they still do.

There were shock waves throughout Teesside when Rioch was relieved of his duties. Few fans could believe it.

Yet Rioch had lost control of the dressing room and the club was in grave danger of being relegated for the second year in succession.

If Rioch had been allowed to stay on the in the spring of 1990, then Boro might well have gone down again.

Yet for several years Rioch had been the Messiah, lifting a bunch of kids and two or three experienced pros from Third Division ignominy to the top flight in two seasons.

It came on the back of the cash-starved club having just been saved from the threat of liquidation but with seemingly very little chance of making an impression even in Division Three.