What Tim Sherwood has said about Middlesbrough owner Steve Gibson - most Boro fans will surely agree | OneFootball

The Sky Sports pundit has been complimentary towards the Teesside club's long-standing custodian

Former Tottenham Hotspur head coach and Sky Sports pundit, Tim Sherwood, issued a glowing reference of Middlesbrough owner, Steve Gibson, whilst discussing his former employer, Rob Edwards, and his well-documented and controversial switch to the Premier League's bottom club, Wolverhampton Wanderers.

It has been a chaotic and previously unexpected month of November for the Teesside club, who are set to end their long-standing wait to land the 42-year-old's permanent successor at the Riverside Stadium.

Indeed, Hammarby IF head coach, Kim Hellberg, has been announced as the latest Boro boss, with the North East side pouncing after negotations between the 37-year-old and their divisional rivals, Swansea City, broke down at the beginning of last week.

Adi Viveash has taken charge of Middlesbrough's past two outings and yielded a return of four points from a possible six, following up an emotion-filled 2-1 success against Birmingham City on November 8th with a slightly below-par result and performance against lowly Oxford United at the Kassam Stadium over the weekend, with Morgan Whittaker's second-half strike cancelling out Luke Harris' initial opener for Gary Rowett's side.

In what is a big week for the club, Viveash is set to take charge of his final game as interim boss on Tuesday night, when the Reds welcome his former employers and league leaders, Coventry City, to the Riverside, in a game which could bear major implications as to what plays out for the remainder of the season, with Middlesbrough currently seven points behind the Sky Blues after 16 games played.

Over the weekend, many eyes were cast on developments at Molineux as former Middlesbrough boss, Edwards, took charge of his first game in the West Midlands since penning a three-and-a-half year contract in WV1, with the Old Gold and Black subsequently suffering a 2-0 defeat to Crystal Palace.

As such, Sherwood was amongst the panel of ex-stars on Sky Sports' Soccer Saturday discussing his latest career move, whilst also praising Gibson for the way in which he has, and continues, to carry himself as the long-serving custodian of his hometown side.

Tim Sherwood issues high praise on Middlesbrough owner Steve Gibson amid managerial saga

Over the past two weeks, Gibson's feelings towards Edwards' decision to initially speak to Wolves, as well as how Middlesbrough supporters have reacted to their former head coach's departure have been widely covered.

The 67-year-old has earned a reputation for being one of the most loyal owners in the English game, during a time when such circumstances are said to be dying out in a bid for short-term success.

Many felt such attributes were certainly on show in June, with the chairman of over 30 years handing Edwards his latest managerial role after his stock had somewhat fallen due to a disastrous end to his time as Luton Town boss before he departed Kenilworth Road back in January.

As such, Sherwood heaped praise on the Middlesbrough custodian, whilst also understanding exactly why the Telford native has returned to the West Midlands.

"I believe it's a no-brainer for him (Edwards) to take it (the Wolves job)," Sherwood said.

"Steve Gibson is one of the best owners and chairmen you're ever going to work for. I think anyone who's ever been to that club (Middlesbrough) says the same thing," he added.

"But there's no loyalty in football. There's no loyalty.

"(The) only people who are loyal, is the fans," the former Spurs boss claimed. "The players are not. The managers are not. The clubs are not.

"Because if he was to lose the next 10 games as Middlesbrough manager, they will sack him anyway," the pundit stated. "Because their expectations are so high because he's put them in that position.

"So, I think it was inevitable, once Wolves came knocking, he was going to leave the club."

Middlesbrough supporters will agree with Tim Sherwood's review of Steve Gibson

Regardless of their views on Edwards, who could well be swapping places with Middlesbrough next season as Wolves sit nine points adrift of safety after a winless start to the campaign, locals will certainly share the same sentiment when it comes to Gibson.

The local businessman is very much 'one of their own', having been one of several names who helped save the club from the brink of extinction in 1986, before starting his successful tenure as chairman a few short years later, following on from the work of Colin Henderson.

During a 30-plus year period as owner, Gibson has overseen mixed times, but was largely responsible for the backing which aided the club's first and only major trophy to-date with the 2003/04 EFL Cup, as well as a run to the UEFA Cup final two years later.

Having not seen his hometown club feature in the Premier League since 2017, there is renewed hope that such feats can be achieved once more this season, particularly if Hellberg gets off to a strong start in the vacancy.