Chris Dunlavy
A FRESH TAKE ON FOOTBALL

DESPITE the chummy exterior and gilded reputation, Steve Gibson has always been a ruthless operator.
After rescuing Middlesbrough from liquidation in 1986, the then 28-year-old discovered a boardroom full of complacent third-generation shareholders more interested in chatting about lunch options than tackling the club’s debts.
Gibson bit his tongue, feigned ignorance and politely persuaded them to sign over full executive control.
So, they asked, what are you going to do now? “None of your business,” he told them. “You’re all fired.”
Over subsequ...