'If players have to leave... we have to see it as a chance to improve'

ROB Edwards offered no assurances on Middlesbrough keeping key players at the club this summer, but insisted if sales were required, the club would have a replacement plan in place.

- By CRAIG JOHNS

Edwards has joined Boro as new head coach this week after Michael Carrick was sacked following a disappointing tenth-place finish last term.

Carrick was able to earn Boro a play-off place once, before narrowly missing out in his latter two campaigns. However, his chances weren't helped by big-player sales.

During his time at the club, Boro lost Chuba Akpom, Morgan Rogers and Emmanuel Latte Lath - with the latter pair leaving in the mid-season, January window to boot.

Unfortunately, such is the reality for a club like Boro in the Championship, who are trying to compete with clubs in receipt of parachute payments while staying within PSR limits.