SCHEDULE IS KIM-POSSIBLE

Life's a beach but Hellberg wouldn't be anywhere else

- BY CRAIG JOHNS

KIM HELLBERG'S start as Middlesbrough boss is doing a lot to ease the longing for his usual Christmas period sunning himself on a beach.

The new Boro head coach - who has enjoyed an excellent start to life in the Championship - traded his usual vacation during the Swedish off-season for the rigours and demands of the traditional English festive schedule.

For Boro, that's meant a pre-Christmas 500-plus-miles round-trip to Bristol City, before two games in four days, first against Blackburn and culminating with tomorrow's clash with Hull City at the Riverside.

Having started so well on Teesside, Hellberg's clamour for the beach has been minimised.