Tyne Tees Tony Mowbray

Middlesbrough Football Club is looking for a new manager, after saying goodbye to an old friend.

Tony Mowbray has been sacked after Boro's disappointing start to the Championship season as Simon O'Rourke reports.

Tony Mowbray has left his position as Middlesbrough manager.

The club confirmed that assistant Mark Venus would take over from the 49-year-old, who has been at the helm since 2010.

A statement on their official website read: "Middlesbrough Football Club have today announced that manager Tony Mowbray has left the club with immediate effect.

"Assistant manager Mark Venus will take charge of the team until further notice."

Middlesbrough Football Club confirmed this evening that Tony Mowbray has left the club with immediate effect.

Assistant manager Mark Venus will take charge of the team until further notice.

In a brief statement, Middlesbrough FC paid tribute to its former captain, who had returned as manager in 2010:

Tony Mowbray has parted company with MFC. The Evening Gazette has reported that he has left the club following a poor start to the season. Mark Venus will take temporary charge of the club.

Middlesbrough will be looking for their first home win of the season when Yeovil Town come to the Riverside in the Championship this weekend.

Middlesbrough manager Tony Mowbray says the culture of sacking managers has developed due to the influx of foreign owners at English clubs.

Nigel Clough was the latest managerial casualty in the Championship after being sacked by Derby County last weekend. The Rams are owned by US firm General Sports and Entertainment (GSE).

Speaking ahead of his side's match with Yeovil Town on Saturday, Mowbray said: "I think a lot of foreign owners at the top end of the table have an eye on promotion and getting to Premier League.

"When they see that slipping away there's no problem just changing the manager because obviously a new manager comes in and changes everything and wins every game straight away of course.

"We all know that's not the case and yet it shows probably a lack of experience or knowledge of the game of some potential owners who think just change is going to improve everything.

"Change is required sometimes in football, but sometimes it's rashly done."

Middlesbrough manager Tony Mowbray believes it was the "wrong week" to try and bolster his squad with a loan signing.

It's understood that Boro have been working hard to bring in a new central defender after conceding eight goals in their last three league games. But Mowbray has so far failed in his attempts and says many clubs have been keen to retain players for the Capital One Cup.

Speaking ahead of Middlesbrough's trip to Queens Park Rangers in the Championship this weekend, Mowbray said: "It was probably the wrong week to ask the questions of the managers I've been asking of I think because it's been Capital One Cup.

"I think every Premier League side these days seems to play weakened teams in the Capital One Cup. I know the managers I spoke to were utilising their squads.

He added: "I think we need cover in that area [defence] and we've trying to do that this week. Unfortunately in this moment we haven't had much success."

Middlesbrough boss Tony Mowbray believes his side's performances this season have been better than their league position suggests.

Boro, who are currently 16th in the Championship table, travel to third placed Nottingham Forest tonight.