"A Boro legend" - Claim made on "outstanding" Middlesbrough owner Steve Gibson | OneFootball

FLW's Boro fan pundit has suggested that Gibson should be regarded as one of the most popular in the country judging by his relationship with the club

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...

Middlesbrough have had some successful years under the ownership of Steve Gibson.

Gibson took the reins of ownership of his hometown club in 1994, after being a part of a consortium that saved the club from liquidation in the summer of 1986.

He became the youngest person ever to join the Boro Board of Directors just two years previous, aged just 26.

He has given Boro fans the experience of moving from Ayresome Park to the Riverside Stadium in 1995, and has had many Wembley visits, including their 128-year-wait for a major trophy in the 2003/04 Carling Cup final, beating Bolton Wanderers, which built Gibson's stature at the club.

A UEFA Cup final defeat to Sevilla followed, and despite the loss, it still remains one of Boro's biggest ever moments as a football club.

Now he is hoping that Michael Carrick can help him return Middlesbrough back to the top flight after eight seasons, but failure wouldn't change the brilliant relationship he has with the Boro faithful.

"One of the most popular" - Middlesbrough claim on chairman Gibson's relationship with the Boro fanbase

FLW's Middlesbrough fan pundit, Phil Spencer - who runs the Phil Spencer Youtube channel, has claimed that Gibson is one of the most popular owners in the country, and has shown excellent communication with the fanbase, albeit with a few blips.

"There is no doubting that Steve Gibson is probably one of the most popular chairmen in the country. He's a hometown boy. He's from Middlesbrough, he gets the area, he gets the club and the community, they are all things that are very important.

"He goes down as a Boro legend, he saved the club from extinction in 1986, and I think the journey he's taking Middlesbrough on and the years that have followed, have been outstanding. When you consider the European adventures and winning the Carling Cup, and the quality players we've brought into the club.

"Juninho, Fabrizio Ravanelli, Gaizka Mendieta and Jimmy Floyd-Hasslebank, they were all down to Steve Gibson and the ambition he's shown as the owner.

"In terms of his connection, it can't be doubted. Communication has been a slightly different matter in the past years, and there have been bits of criticism aimed at the club over the last five or ten years. Communication from the top of the club hasn't been particularly forthcoming with supporters.

"That has changed in the last few years. Kieran Scott came in as Boro's head of football and there has clearly been a bigger shift in that way of thinking. He's not out in the media speaking to them every week, but he does tend to do a round with the media after each transfer window, doing one with the official club channels and any local radios/newspapers.

"It's appreciated by supporters, who can then get an understanding as to what the club are trying to do and what their motives are. It's something that builds trust between fans and the club's hierarchy."

Gibson's next aim will be promotion back to the Premier League

After all of Gibson's achievements at Boro, he will be hoping to cement his boyhood club as a Premier League side once more.

There is no doubt they've got close through the play-offs, and they have a great chance this season with the squad Carrick has available to him.

The decision to appoint Carrick in itself could turn out to be another slice of genius from Gibson and his board.

Another promotion to the Premier League will be the aim, and Gibson will be hoping he can retain his club in the top flight once more.