Aitor Karanka: 'I would like to have Boro's passionate away fans at The Riverside'

Aitor Karanka believes there is a mood of negativity surrounding his team.

The Boro boss insists the players’ spirits are high despite Monday’s defeat at Watford but says he has noticed a negative vibe away from the training ground.

He made the comments at his press conference ahead of Saturday’s must-win Championship clash with Rotherham.

Karanka was careful not to point the finger of blame directly at the fans but he did express disappointment with the level of support at some home games.

He also referred to negative lines of questioning from the press.

“The fans have to be very pleased because at the beginning of the season everybody had hoped for this position (in the table),” he said.

“Now we are playing at the top of the table and I think it is has to be good for them and I would like to change sometimes the atmosphere, the thoughts about the team because since I arrived here, most of the times, the thoughts, the feelings about the team are always negative.

“When we were in November, December, not at the top of the table, but in a play-off position, everybody was expecting that Middlesbrough in January and February would go down (the table).

“When we played against Nottingham Forest on Boxing Day, everybody said that when Boxing Day sells out, Middlesbrough have never won the game.

“When I got manager of the month, everyone said that after the award Middlesbrough is going to lose the following game.

“Always the atmosphere is negative and I think they have to be very proud of the players because they are being perfect. I think they have to be optimistic and at the end of the season we can see (where we finish).

“We don’t have any reason to be negative, I think everything is positive. We have five games to go and we chances to get promotion directly. If not promoted directly then we can play in the play-offs and that was the objective at the beginning of the season, so I can’t find motives to be negative.”

Boro fans have packed out away stands around the country this season

Karanka has been stunned by the support his team has received on the road but picked out an example - possibly Bolton at home on February 24 - where just 17,000 turned up at the Riverside despite the team sitting in an automatic promotion position.

“I would like to have the same passionate people who come when we play away, at home,” he said.

“When we went to Bournemouth, the stadium was full, it’s true that it’s not big, but it was full. When we went to Derby, the stadium was full. When we went to Watford, the stadium was full.

“For this reason I can’t understand it. Everyone is excited about the club, how (excited) they are to get promotion and at the game there are just 17,000 people.

“I can’t say anything about the crowd, especially away, because when we played Blackburn we sold out, when we went to Rotherham, sold-out.

“But I think the team, the players need the support and if they want to be in the Premier League like us, we have to go together.”

#OnThisBoroDay 2000: Bryan Robson is left furious after Boro lose seven-goal thriller against Manchester United

It’s not often you score three goals on home turf and end up empty-handed.

Then again, it’s not every week the champions elect Manchester United turn up.

Yet despite pushing Sir Alex Ferguson’s side to the brink in a seven-goal thriller at the Riverside on this day in 2000, Bryan Robson was left furious.

Not furious with his side’s performance, anything but. Livid with Paul Durkin’s controversial decision to chalk off Hamilton Ricard’s goal in the first half.

Had that goal been allowed to stand, Boro would led 2-0 at the break and surely gone on to record a memorable victory.

Instead, they could only watch on as spectators as United powered out of the blocks in the second half, the harsh words of Sir Alex no doubt still ringing in their ears, and raced into a 3-1 lead.

That, you may well have assumed was that. But this was a game far from over.

Paul Ince dragged Boro back into it with just three minutes left to play, Quinton Fortune looked to have wrapped the game up yet again before Juninho completed the scoring with Boro coming up agonisingly short and losing 4-3.

Robson was incredibly proud of his players but couldn’t hide his anger as he looked back on Durkin’s decision to rule out Ricard’s goal, adjudging Brian Dean to have fouled Jaap Stam.

“I’ve seen centre-halves and centre forwards have tussles in the box before and nothing’s ever given,” Robson told the Gazette.

“But United got it in their favour. If we had gone in at 2-0 at half-time it could have been a completely different game in the second half.”

Ferguson would no doubt stress that this was the type of result that won titles. United had to dig deep but picked up the points and in doing so extended their lead at the top to 11 points.

The hosts, on the other hand, were languishing in 12th, reflecting on what was ultimately a missed opportunity and would have bumped Boro up above Everton into eighth position.

But nobody could have asked anymore of Robson’s spirited side.

“At the final reckoning, Manchester United had the edge in most departments and Boro’s brave efforts were not enough to turn the tide,” reported Eric Paylor in the Gazette.

“However, Boro could not have worked any harder, particularly in the first half when they completely unsettled the champions elect.”

Richie Smallwood: 'I didn't think Boro would be in the mix as they are now but they've had a great season'

Richie Smallwood would love to see Boro book a spot in the Premier League next year but admits he's pleasantly surprised his former side are still in the mix for an automatic promotion spot at this stage of the season.

The midfield man spent pre-season at Boro and was on the bench for the game against Birmingham on the opening day before making the switch to Rotherham United.

There were whispers of promotion before a ball was kicked in the current campaign after a much improved finish to last season with Aitor Karanka at the helm.

But Smallwood admits he felt the play-offs were a more realistic target than a spot in the top two.

"If I'm honest I didn't think they would be in the mix as they are now," he told the Gazette.

"I thought they would be pushing for a play-off place but when I left the squad was still quite small. When we went on the trip to Marbella there were a lot of young lads in the squad.

"Obviously since then the manager has recruited well and signed some really good players and they've had a great season."

Richard Smallwood at Rotherham and Boro

Boro find themselves two points off top spot ahead of the game against Rotherham on Saturday and in desperate need of three points as they look to bounce back from the disappointment of the defeat at Watford.

With five games to go it's still impossible to predict who grab the much-desired top two spots and who will have to fight their way through the lottery of the play-offs.

"If I was pushed into making a prediction I think it's hard to see past Bournemouth and Watford at the minute," said Smallwood.

"They are both strong home and away.

"But Boro will be looking to pick up three points against us on Saturday and they're not going to be far away at the end of the season."

Richie Smallwood in action for Rotherham against Birmingham this season

Boro face what could be potentially be season deciding games against Wolves and Norwich in the next week but Aitor Karanka said he won't give those games a thought until after the clash with Rotherham on Saturday.

"When we have thought too far ahead it was a mistake and we lost the next game," said the boss in his press conference yesterday.

"We have to beat Rotherham on Saturday and Wolves on Tuesday."

Those comments will come as no surprise to Smallwood who said his former manager never let the focus shift from the immediate challenge ahead.

"That was always the case with Aitor Karanka when I was at Boro," he admitted.

"He always takes it game by game and I can imagine that is the way he's approaching the promotion run-in."

Plans submitted to bring former Chicago Rock Cafe night club back into use

A disused Middlesbrough town centre night club could be reopened as a “multi-event centre” if plans are approved.

An application for planning permission for the former Chicago Rock Cafe, on Wilson Street, has been submitted to Middlesbrough Council by London based Southmill Property Group.

The proposal document submitted to the council outlines plans for the premises to be used as a centre for “various related functions” which include: “A banqueting suite, weddings, parties, concerts, night club, events and all types of activities.

The application adds: “It’s quite a generic description, there is no internal or external alteration.”

The site opened as a Chicago Rock Cafe in 1999, after £2.9m was spent renovating the site formerly known as the Venue.

It boasted an island bar in the middle of the building and another underneath a raised stage with an 800 person capacity.

An American-style restaurant seating 80 was also opened in the building.

The upstairs at the premises was originally known as Liquid, but a £500,000 investment saw it reopen in 2005 as Lava and Ignite.

In 2007, Chicago Rock Cafe and the upstairs night club, then known as Love2Love, was the first in the region to use swabs to test for cocaine use.

After the premises closed, Middlesbrough Council turned down an application to reopen the closed Chicago Rock by Thornaby man Michael Scott.

Councillors said they were “concerned” about Mr Scott’s criminal history - he had spent five-and-a-half years in jail for supply of Class A drugs.

He told the Gazette at the time that he was “disappointed with the outcome”.

He said: “It would have created jobs, help bring more people into the town - which would have helped other businesses - and ultimately I wanted to provide a safe place for young people.”

The premises have been closed since.

Redcar museum housing world's oldest lifeboat sets sail on new era

The dawn of a new era for Redcar’s Zetland Lifeboat Museum has been marked with a special exhibit.

For the first time in three decades, the seafront museum - which includes a Redcar heritage centre - will now be run as an independent visitor attraction, rather than by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI).

And among the attractions for the 2015 season, which was launched today , is a fascinating piece with Redcar lifeboat connections.

The inscribed snuff mull, made from ram’s horn and silver plate, was recently discovered in Redcar’s Conservative Club.

But it has an intriguing past, having originally been presented to Redcar’s Zetland Club by Dr Alfred S. Robinson - a former curator of the museum in which it will now be displayed.

Dr Robinson was curator in the early 1930s, as well as being chairman of the Redcar RNLI branch.

Tragically, he was among 15 victims when the Zetland Club was bombed on October 21, 1941.

But the fact one of his artefacts has now “come home” has been welcomed by the museum’s current chairman, Fred Brunskill.

He said: “It was through his work that this place was opened as a museum. In many way, he was its saviour and we wouldn’t be here today if it hadn’t been for him.”

And Fred, who paid tribute to the RNLI for their support over the years, and for their help in smoothing the waters towards independence, said he was confident the new era would be successful.

“We’re sure the museum is going to be sustainable for a number of years and that this season will be a good one, although we still need to raise funds through bric-a-brac stalls, raffles and other events. It means we can ring fence money we already have towards conservation of the boat.”

The “boat” is the museum’s centrepiece, the Zetland - the world’s oldest surviving lifeboat. Built in 1802, it predates the RNLI by 22 years and has been afforded the same status as other historic vessels like the Mary Rose and HMS Victory.

But over recent years, the museum has also been expanded to showcase a fascinating display of Redcar-related memorabilia.

Launching the 2015 season, museum patron Lord Zetland said: “We are on our own now, rather than under the umbrella of the RNLI. In some ways it’s very frightening but in others, it’s challenging and exciting.”

The museum is open daily, 11am-4pm weekdays and 11am-5pm on Saturdays and Sundays, admission free. Volunteers wanting to join the museum crew are always welcome, call 01642 494311 or just drop in.

Boro boss Aitor Karanka wants everyone to cheer up

Aitor Karanka believes there is a mood of negativity surrounding his team.

The Boro boss insists the players’ spirits are high despite Monday’s defeat at Watford but says he has noticed a negative vibe away from the training ground.

He made the comments at his press conference ahead of Saturday’s must-win Championship clash with Rotherham.

Karanka was careful not to point the finger of blame directly at the fans but he did express disappointment with the level of support at some home games.

He also referred to negative lines of questioning from the press.

“The fans have to be very pleased because at the beginning of the season everybody had hoped for this position (in the table),” he said.

“Now we are playing at the top of the table and I think it is has to be good for them and I would like to change sometimes the atmosphere, the thoughts about the team because since I arrived here, most of the times, the thoughts, the feelings about the team are always negative.

“When we were in November, December, not at the top of the table, but in a play-off position, everybody was expecting that Middlesbrough in January and February would go down (the table).

“When we played against Nottingham Forest on Boxing Day, everybody said that when Boxing Day sells out, Middlesbrough have never won the game.

“When I got manager of the month, everyone said that after the award Middlesbrough is going to lose the following game.

“Always the atmosphere is negative and I think they have to be very proud of the players because they are being perfect. I think they have to be optimistic and at the end of the season we can see (where we finish).

“We don’t have any reason to be negative, I think everything is positive. We have five games to go and we chances to get promotion directly. If not promoted directly then we can play in the play-offs and that was the objective at the beginning of the season, so I can’t find motives to be negative.”

Karanka has been stunned by the support his team has received on the road but picked out an example - possibly Bolton at home on February 24 - where just 17,000 turned up at the Riverside despite the team sitting in an automatic promotion position.

“I would like to have the same passionate people who come when we play away, at home,” he said.

“When we went to Bournemouth, the stadium was full, it’s true that it’s not big, but it was full. When we went to Derby, the stadium was full. When we went to Watford, the stadium was full.

“For this reason I can’t understand it. Everyone is excited about the club, how (excited) they are to get promotion and at the game there are just 17,000 people.

“I can’t say anything about the crowd, especially away, because when we played Blackburn we sold out, when we went to Rotherham, sold-out.

“But I think the team, the players need the support and if they want to be in the Premier League like us, we have to go together.”

Yarmouk situation desperate, says UN

LONDON: UN officials warned on Wednesday of a potential “slaughter of innocents” unless aid reached a Palestinian refugee camp in Syria where thousands of civilians are trapped up in a vicious battle.

Some 18,000 civilians, including 3,500 children, are caught in the camp outside Damascus just a few miles from President Bashar Assad’s palace. The camp largely fell under Islamic State control last week and is surrounded by the Syrian army.

The Yarmouk camp has been held by anti-Assad insurgents and besieged by government troops since the early days of the war and many have already fled. But as fighting intensified in and around the camp, the remaining refugees have been left without food, water and medical supplies prompting aid agencies to call for evacuations.

“The level of inhumanity that Yarmouk has descended to is frankly unimaginable,” Chris Gunness, a spokesman for the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), told the Thomson Reuters Foundation in a Skype interview from Jerusalem.

“The situation is absolutely desperate. We need urgently to have humanitarian access, which is why UNRWA is calling for all parties to exercise influence with their clients on the ground so that we can get into the camp.”

Gunness said since the fighting escalated a week ago, UNRWA aid convoys have not been able to enter the camp and the already dire situation has become more desperate with people left without water, food or medicine and the growing risk of disease.

Gunness said a few Palestinian charities had managed to get some supplies to the camp but otherwise people were cut off with the risk of disease rising daily.

“When you have public health system completely shot to pieces, when you have such terrible levels of food insecurity … disease is going to soar,” said Gunness.

“We have tragic pictures of children and others scooping up water out of holes in the streets.”

Gunness said UNRWA had not been a regular presence in the camp for at least two years so it was impossible to estimate the number of people now ill or the death toll.

The war in Syria has killed 220,000 people and displaced millions of Syrians.

The United Nations has said it is extremely concerned about the safety and protection of Syrian and Palestinian civilians at the Yarmouk camp.

Gunness said an estimated 94 civilians, including 43 women and 20 children, managed to leave the camp on Sunday and were provided with humanitarian support so there was no reason why more could not be helped to safety.

“For me it is unconceivable that the so-called civilized world can stand and watch what is going on in Yarmouk,” he said.

“We are facing a potential slaughter of the innocents and the world cannot stand by and watch that happen.”

Recap: Boro news, views, rumours and more on Thursday 9th April

The Gazette's Boro live blog brings you the latest news, views, rumours and more about Middlesbrough FC.

Our sports team are with you for live weekday coverage including photos, nostalgia, interviews, surveys and the best of Boro social media.

Give us your thoughts by tweeting via our #BoroLive hashtag, at @GazetteBoro or find us on Facebook.

Motorcyclist airlifted to hospital after collision with car near Guisborough

A motorcyclist was airlifted to hospital after a collision with a car near Guisborough.

The 50-year-old rider suffered serious arm and leg injuries in the collision at Birk Brow.

Police and the Great North Air Ambulance were called to the scene at 6.30pm tonight.

The man was treated at the scene by paramedics before being flown to the major trauma centre at Middlesbrough’s James Cook University Hospital.

A spokesman for the Great North Air Ambulance said his condition was stable.

Andhra police defends killings of 20 woodcutters

Fifteen of the 20 woodcutters killed in an alleged gun battle with police in Andhra Pradesh have been identified while the police have defended their action saying they fired in self-defence.

The bodies of seven of the slain woodcutters, who were working for red sander smugglers, were handed over to their relatives. The killings took place in Chittoor district.

The bodies were given to their families after an autopsy at the Ruya Hospital in this temple town. Almost all the deceased are from neighbouring Tamil Nadu.

Police enforced tight security around the hospital as the killings have evoked widespread condemnation from political parties and human rights groups, who termed the encounter as fake.

Some rights activists staged a protest outside the hospital, raising slogans against the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) government.

A team of officials from Tamil Nadu reached Tirupati along with seven ambulances to receive the bodies.

The Andhra government officials set up a help desk to provide information to the relatives of the slain woodcutters.

Police said it gunned down the smugglers at two places in Seshachalam forests early Tuesday.

Director General of Police J.V. Ramudu, who reviewed the situation with top officials here, defended the police action, saying they opened fire in self defence.

The police chief said the task force launched combing operations after receiving information that smugglers had entered the forests.

He said the task force personnel had to open as they were attacked by the smugglers.

He said strong measures were inevitable to protect the forest wealth and pointed out that it was for this very purpose that the task force was constituted.

He said the smugglers had attacked forest officials and hacked them to death in the past.

—IANS

Three key battles that could determine Boro's clash with Rotherham

Two teams with their own agendas, two teams in need of points at opposite ends of the table.

Boro coasted to victory when these sides met earlier in the season, a stroll to three points against a team usually extremely hard working and difficult to break down.

Steve Evans will be desperate to avoid a repeat of that display this time around, especially with his Rotherham side within touching distance of securing Championship survival.

For Boro, nothing less than three points will do.

Here, we look at three key battles that could determine Boro's game with Rotherham on Saturday.

Adam Clayton v Richie Smallwood

The prospect of Richie Smallwood going head to head with the player he previously partnered in the middle of the park was a mouthwatering one but the flash of yellow that greeted Grant Leadbitter in the final minute at Watford put paid to that.

Still, Smallwood v Clayton is an intriguing battle. Boro's former midfield man locking horns with the man who replaced him in the engine room.

Smallwood insists he doesn't feel he has a point to prove against his former employers but will still undoubtedly arrive at the Riverside with fire in his belly.

Clayton, on the other hand, has the small matter of stepping into the boots of the stand-in-skipper.

The regular middle of the park lieutenant hasn't been at his very best in recent weeks but will have to be in Leadbitter's absence.

Smallwood won't give him an inch. Neither player is known for shying out of a tackle and both will look to dictate the tempo of their side's play.

The Dormo Destroyer v Boro's bearded - well, not quite anymore - battler, a scrap from the off that will be well worth keeping an eye on.

Patrick Bamford v Kirk Broadfoot

Kirk Broadfoot will look back on last summer fondly. He ended the season at crisis club Blackpool but wasn't offered a new contract. Can't imagine he'll look back on that with much regret.

Instead, he moved on and signed for Rotherham United, instantly establishing himself at the heart of the defence.

The dark days at Blackpool was a far cry from the peak of Broadfoot's career, making his debut for Rangers in the Champions League before going on to help the Gers reach the UEFA Cup final.

The days of European football could be behind him but 6ft 3" Broadfoot has played a pivotal part in making sure the Millers don't drop into the third tier.

The 30-year-old has won almost 55% of his aerial duals this year and around 76% of his tackles, as well as making 94 crucial recoveries.

But in Patrick Bamford he will come up against one of the league's form frontmen.

Bamford has scored four goals in his last three appearances at the Riverside, playing a huge part as Boro picked up maximum points in those outings.

He looked isolated and frustrated for long periods at Vicarage Road on Monday but has now started the last five games in a central role.

If AK sticks with the young forward up-top, Broadfoot will have to be at his best to keep him quiet.

Albert Adomah v Ben Pringle

Form flanker v tricky winger.

With seven assists and three goals to his name, Pringle has stepped up from League One to the Championship in impressive fashion this season.

But if he leaves Daniel Lafferty exposed at left-back, Boro's form man Albert Adomah could take advantage.

The Ghanaian flanker is playing his best football of the season so far, if not the best of his Boro career, and has caused left-backs no end of problems in recent weeks.

With Adomah enjoying such a rich vein of form, it's hard to see Aitor Karanka moving him over to the left if he chooses to have a reshuffle of his front four.

Lafferty will be in for a difficult afternoon and, while Ben Pringle is one of the players most likely to cause problems at the other end for the visitors, he'll also have to be switched on and aware of the danger his opposite number poses.

Unloved Vinyl breathes life into Middlesbrough shopping centre

Unloved vinyl from the decade of punk and glam rock is breathing life into a Tees shopping centre - in the form of a new art installation.

The Wall of Sound, featuring records from the 1970s, was installed at Newton Mall within the Cleveland Centre, by local artist Bob Page.

Bob has also created the new entrance signs to the shopping centre’s malls, featuring local landmarks including the Transporter Bridge and Claes Oldenburg’s Bottle of Notes.

Artist Bob Page has made new signage at Cleveland centre and new art installation 'Wall of Sound' featuring vinyl records from 1970's

Bob said the inspiration for his musical work came from his love of making art from “redundant forms destined for the bin”.

The scratched and unwanted vinyl records, sourced from Stockton record store Sound It Out, spin at high speed thanks to a recycled oscillating fan, creating “eyeball-like” patterns.

Bob said: “The Wall of Sound is about producing order from chaos, because it was produced chaotically but now looks very orderly.

“My work is quite transient. It is designed for a passing audience, so it should work quite well in the Cleveland Centre shopping mall.

“I hope it will maybe cheer shoppers up, put a smile on their faces and make them think too.”

Bob, who runs a graphic art studio named TubbyPhunk, said unwanted records by “Gonna Make You a Star” singer David Essex were particular favourites for the artistic rebirth.

Cleveland Centre’s marketing agency Emmerson Marketing worked with Bob on the signage projects.

Artist Bob Page has made new signage at Cleveland centre and new art installation 'Wall of Sound' featuring vinyl records from 1970's

Matt Emmerson, managing director, said: “The new installations show the Centre’s support for local talent and celebrate the rich history and heritage of Middlesbrough, which will hopefully resonate with shoppers.”

Centre manager Graeme Skillen said he was confident shoppers would enjoy the work, with more local landmarks set to appear in the near future.

Telangana is following the footsteps of Gujarat – Digvijay Singh

General Secretary of Congress Mr. Digvijay Singh demanded CBI probe in Nalagonda encounters. He wrote on his tweet that Congress Party demands CBI probe in Nalagonda encounters. He further said that this encounter reminds us of the role played by Gujarat Police in encounters. It is possible that some Government officials might be involved in this encounter. It is therefore necessary to order CBI enquiry.

This statement has been given in the wake of doubts expressed about this encounter whether police opened fire to protect themselves or to kill the accused who were alleged to have been escaping from police van. Human activists have also alleged that in Telangana and A.P. police has been given free hand.

–Siasat News

Grand National 2015: Chance for Teesside punters to get behind local jockey

VIEW GALLERY

It's the biggest date on the horse-racing calendar - and this year Teesside punters can get behind a local jockey going for glory.

James Reveley, 26, will ride Night in Milan - currently a 25-1 shot with the bookies and in with a chance of winning the Grand National.

It’s a family affair for James - his grandmother Mary Reveley was one of the sport’s most successful female trainers.

His dad Keith took over the reigns 11 years ago at their Groundhill Farm stables near Lingdale, where Night in Milan trains.

James, who has ridden in the National three times, said: “It is the biggest race of the season, everything builds up to this - all the excitement and hype.

“I’ve been in the race three times, and I’ve never made it all the way round.

“It’s such a lottery, but I am hoping I can this time, and if I do then I hope I’ll be in contention.”

The former Sacred Heart School student became a jockey at aged 16 - and said he is watching his weight before the marquee race on Saturday.

He will head to Aintree early on Saturday morning in a confident mood.

“I am not feeling too nervous at the moment, but I think that might change on the morning of the race,” continued James, who splits his time between Lingdale and working in the South West of France.

“I am watching what I eat at the moment. I eat a lot of fish, but I am quite tall so I need to be careful with my weight. I’ll be running on Friday night and I’ll also look at the sauna if I need to drop a pound or two.”

Night In Milan certainly ticks plenty of boxes for the world’s greatest steeplechase.

The nine-year-old has finished in the first three on 13 of his 18 chase starts, winning four, and will turn up on Merseyside off the back of arguably his best ever season, despite failing to get his head in front.

“I feel like he is starting to get into his prime. He’s been consistent in his races so far,” continued James.

“We don’t over-train him, but he is ridden every day by Gill Boanas at the farm and he is looking good.”

James has enjoyed victory over the National fences before, and has plenty of experience riding long-distance events on the French cross-country circuit and would appear the ideal jockey for this testing assignment.

“Apart from winning on Endless Power in the Grand Sefton James hasn’t got a great record around there, but it’s a race that should suit him as he is a very good horseman,” said his father Keith.

“He’s ridden Night In Milan in most of his jumps races and knows him inside out.

“I think his plan is to hunt away early on, try and get in a nice rhythm and see where it takes him.

“If you can survive the first circuit you’ve half a chance.”

Jordan Rhodes: Could Boro target be part of Blackburn exodus this summer?

Blackburn Rovers boss Gary Bowyer expects there to be plenty of interest in his star players this summer - with Boro target Jordan Rhodes among those set to be in-demand.

Rovers received plenty of plaudits for their FA Cup display against Liverpool last night, as Philippe Coutinho’s goal sent the Premier League giants to Wembley.

But after seeing his injury-hit team go toe-to-toe with the Reds at Ewood Park, Bowyer accepted many of his prized assets may attract attention from top-flight clubs this summer.

Last month, Boro were in pole position to land Rhodes on loan with a view to a permanent summer switch, but Rovers’ owners, the Venky’s, eventually knocked back the offer.

Blackburn's Jordan Rhodes in action against Charlton's Roger Johnson

Read five facts about Jordan Rhodes

That means Boro will make a decision on whether to re-ignite their interest this summer - and Bowyer is expecting a number of his first-team stars to attract enquiries.

“What the players have done is they’ve put themselves on a platform and shown that they can play in the Premier League,” Bowyer told MailOnline.

“They’ve got to maintain that over the next six games and show the Premier League big boys.

"That’s obviously the nature of the game that we’re in, I’m not going to kid myself.

“It’s the nature of business. If you look at all the clubs now, everybody sells. Liverpool sold (Luis) Suarez in the summer.

Action Images

Jordan Rhodes celebrates after scoring for Blackburn at Charlton

“You’ve seen over the two games against Liverpool and in previous games against Swansea and Stoke that we’ve got some very good young players.

"They’re developing, they’re growing and getting some real experience under their belts.”

With Rovers missing out on a late push for the play-off spots, another season in the Championship beckons next season.

And with debts reportedly mounting at Ewood Park and the club slapped with a transfer ban due to breaching Financial Fair Play regulations, the Venky’s stance on Rhodes could soon change.

“You always want to keep your players and we want to be in a position to add to it,” Bowyer added.

“We’ve got to try and do as much as we can with this embargo.

"The embargo’s just caught up with us because we haven’t been able to bring enough bodies in.”

In pictures: Teessiders enjoy glorious sunshine with warm weather set to continue

What a glorious day!

Teesside has been basked in sunshine for most of the day with families enjoying time at the seaside and in the area's parks.

Redcar's recently reopened boating lake was a popular spot and Stockton's Ropner Park was also busy.

In Middlesbrough, office workers took the opportunity to take their lunch break in Centre Square.

The good news is we may get at least another day to enjoy the sunshine, details of the Met Office's forecast is below.

Tonight

Early evening sunshine then another dry night with light winds. Fog patches are expected to develop as temperatures dip, with a local frost possible in rural areas. Minimum Temperature 1 °C.

Friday

Warm again but sunshine becoming increasingly hazy under high cloud and there will be a fresher southerly breeze. Maximum Temperature 19°C.

Saturday to Monday

Much fresher over the weekend. Dry and bright on Saturday, perhaps some rain on Sunday. Monday, a return to dry, sunny conditions and feeling pleasantly warm in light winds.

'I'm not going to eat THAT': Michelin-starred London chef attacks parmo on primetime TV

Revered in these parts, the parmo is held up as a Teesside treasure.

But what do other people make of our very favourite dish?

A Michelin-starred chef has now given his take on the local delicacy - and it’s not good.

“It’s a heart attack on a plate,” said Michelin star chef Tom Sellers.

His view came after 23-year-old Lee Duce attempted to serve him up his ‘signature dish’ on Channel 4 programme Burger Bar to Gourmet Star on Tuesday evening.

Tom Sellers

“It’s a huge amount of cheese,” continued Tom, who owns top London eatery Story.

“I’m not going to eat that. No way. That isn’t cooking,” he told the young chef from Guisborough.

Lee looked crestfallen by the verdict - but it’s only the beginning of what makes an emotional journey for him.

www.channel4.com

The parmo cooked by Lee Duce

The programme - which you can watch on the Channel 4 website - follows Lee’s time training under Tom at his restaurant Story.

He then jets out to a Spanish restaurant with two Michelin stars to see if he can fool the owner into thinking he has more experience than he does.

The show said that Lee's only grounding in cooking was at his mum Tracey’s Guisborough "greasy spoon" - Cafe Duce.

“It’s the love of cooking that makes me do that,” said Lee as he explained about not earning a wage for helping out at the family business.

“I cook out of a frier and a griddle - and also a microwave.

“It’s disappointing to me. It’s disheartening.”

Of the parmo he said: “I like to think it’s my signature dish and when you cook it from scratch it’s beautiful.”

To find out if Lee managed his Michelin task visit this link.

Read all of The Gazette's parmo content by clicking here

Teesside's first 'poo transplant': Cutting-edge technique that cured Stockton dad's bowel infection

A Stockton man has been cured in a Teesside first - by undergoing a “poo transplant”.

Len Barnes is the first patient in our area to have undergone the cutting-edge technique, and the radical move appears to have done the trick.

The 75-year-old, who lives in Eaglescliffe with wife Thelma, suffered from constant pain and diarrhoea as a result of the bowel infection Clostridium Difficile (CDiff).

He lost his appetite and more than three stones in weight; weight which he couldn’t really afford to lose, he said.

Numerous courses of antibiotics during long spells in hospital were not making a difference.

When University Hospital of North Tees consultant gastroenterologist Chris Wells suggested a faecal transplant, Len thought he was joking.

“I’d never heard of it before,” he said: “I thought, come on, you’re taking the mickey.

“Dr Wells explained that mixing healthy poo with my poo and transferring it back into my bowel mixed with warm water would give someone’s healthy bacteria the chance to fight with my bad bacteria. He said one transplant should do it but it might need a second to fully sort out my bowel.”

The next thing was to find a donor but daughter Debbie, who’d do anything for her dad, didn’t hesitate.

The 52-year-old hotel general manager had her stools tested to make sure they were suitable and free from harmful bacteria.

On the day of the transplant - on Friday, March 13 - in the endoscopy suite at the Stockton hospital, Debbie’s stools were mixed in warm water and put into Len’s bowel. The procedure took about an hour.

Len, a retired quality control inspector, said: “I had a bit of sedation but watched it all happening on the screen in the endoscopy unit. It was interesting! I knew it had worked straightaway. The next day Dr Wells said I could go home and I said hadn’t been to the toilet. He said, you will. I was almost looking forward to it! Sure enough, when the time came I was fine and everything was back to normal. It’s been about four weeks now and everything is still fine.

“It’s Dr Wells who needs all the congratulations for coming up with the idea.”

Dr Chris Wells who carried out the transplant at North Tees Hospital

Dr Wells said: “Faecal transplantation doesn’t sound very appealing but it’s a very effective remedy in patients like Len who have a serious CDiff bowel infection than hasn’t responded to first and second line treatments. It’s great to see Len looking well after all the suffering he has been through.

“Transplanting faeces from one person to another does seem a bit unusual but actually it’s using healthy gut bacteria to fight off infection.

“Our bowels are packed full of billions of bacteria and these play an important role in maintaining health. Treatments, such as antibiotics, can disrupt this balance and allow bad bacteria to grow in the bowel and upset health. This seems a sensible way to restore normal balance.

“We are pleased to be able to offer this treatment in the trust. We have seen a significant reduction in the number of CDiff cases in the trust over the past few years. Prevention is obviously preferable to cure but it is reassuring to know that we now have availability of faecal transplant treatment in the future if we need it.”

When asked what he’d say to other people offered this treatment Len said: “Go for it. Admittedly it’s a bit of an out-of-the-box idea but it has changed my life.”

'I'm not going to eat THAT': Michelin-starred London chef attacks parmo on primetime TV

Revered in these parts, the parmo is held up as a Teesside treasure.

But what do other people make of our very favourite dish?

A Michelin-starred chef has now given his take on the local delicacy - and it’s not good.

“It’s a heart attack on a plate,” said Michelin star chef Tom Sellers.

His view came after 23-year-old Lee Duce attempted to serve him up his ‘signature dish’ on Channel 4 programme Burger Bar to Gourmet Star on Tuesday evening.

Tom Sellers

“It’s a huge amount of cheese,” continued Tom, who owns top London eatery Story.

“I’m not going to eat that. No way. That isn’t cooking,” he told the young chef from Guisborough.

Lee looked crestfallen by the verdict - but it’s only the beginning of what makes an emotional journey for him.

www.channel4.com

The parmo cooked by Lee Duce

The programme - which you can watch on the Channel 4 website - follows Lee’s time training under Tom at his restaurant Story.

He then jets out to a Spanish restaurant with two Michelin stars to see if he can fool the owner into thinking he has more experience than he does.

The show said that Lee's only grounding in cooking was at his mum Tracey’s Guisborough "greasy spoon" - Cafe Duce.

“It’s the love of cooking that makes me do that,” said Lee as he explained about not earning a wage for helping out at the family business.

“I cook out of a frier and a griddle - and also a microwave.

“It’s disappointing to me. It’s disheartening.”

Of the parmo he said: “I like to think it’s my signature dish and when you cook it from scratch it’s beautiful.”

To find out if Lee managed his Michelin task visit this link.

Read all of The Gazette's parmo content by clicking here

Your Pub In Pictures: The Infant Hercules, Grange Road, Middlesbrough

VIEW GALLERY

Pub name: The Infant Hercules.

Address: 84 Grange Road, Middlesbrough TS1 2LS.

Website: http://on.fb.me/1yguBOq

Landlord/manager: Mick Hill, Chris Moloney and Neil Hodds.

How long have you been at the pub? Four weeks.

What’s your recent history as a landlord? We have run pubs, clubs for a few years now. Other pubs we have had are The Legion and currently we have The Longlands Club.

Tell us three of your best selling drinks? Sharps Cornish Pilsner, our locally-sourced cask ales and Brockman’s Gin with tonic, grapefruit zest and blueberries.

Tell us why you think your pub is one of the best on Teesside? It has a great atmosphere, very welcoming and has a great choice of real ale, pilsner, cider and bottles on offer. The layout and decor is a testament to Middlesbrough as an industrial town.

What is your most popular night and why do you think it is? Our most popular night is a Saturday night. The pub has a good atmosphere with couples and groups enjoying themselves.

The warm and welcoming vibe is great for couples who want to enjoy good drinks in a friendly environment. It has added vitality and choice to that area of the town which is great.

Man headbutted and punched after argument in Middlesbrough Tesco car park

A man sustained head and facial injuries after being attacked in a car park.

The 41-year-old victim was in the car park of Tesco Express on Longlands Road on Sunday, April 5, when he became involved in a verbal altercation with another man.

The incident, which took place at around 12.45pm, then resulted in the victim being knocked to the ground after the suspect headbutted him.

He was then repeatedly punched in the head and face before a member of the public intervened and the suspect got into his car and made off, driving in the direction of Marton Road.

A Cleveland Police spokeswoman said: “The victim was left with minor head and facial injuries and was treated at James Cook University Hospital before being discharged.”

The suspect is described as a white male, aged in his late forties or early fifties, around 5ft 9ins to 5ft 10ins tall, of stocky build, with short, brown hair which was possibly greying.

Police would like to trace the member of the public who intervened as well as any other witnesses to the incident.

Anyone with information is asked to contact PC Shaun Townsend on the non-emergency number 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Stewart Park worker who found injured goats: 'It's terrifying someone could do something like this'

A park worker who found two goats traumatised and severely injured after a suspected deliberate dog attack has told of the horrifying moment she discovered them.

Natalie Marwood, parks officer at the popular Stewart Park in Marton, said she has cried for two days at the thought of what the animals went through.

Natalie, who has worked at the park for 13 years, was first on the scene after the attack on companions Billy, a small pygmy goat, and Rags, a large white goat, which happened overnight on Tuesday into Wednesday.

Both goats had to be put down due to the severity of their injuries.

She said: “This is really upsetting, and I’m so angry now too. The animals do have feelings and I love them all as if they’re my own pets.

“Billy screamed when I went to him and tried to clean him up. Rags was in shock, he was shaking and pacing up and down. I waited with Billy for the vet to come.

“When he was screaming, Rags was resting his head on my hip wanting a bit of comfort. It was awful.

“Although those two were separated off on their own, the other goats were all stood at the fence. They knew something was wrong and were all distressed.

“It’s terrifying that someone could do something like this. I hope anyone who knows something comes forward because someone who could do that is capable of anything.”

VIEW GALLERY

The vet confirmed the injuries were caused by a dog.

Cleveland Police were today reviewing CCTV from the park and renewed their appeal for information.

A Cleveland Police spokeswoman said: “We can confirm that CCTV from the park is being reviewed, as the investigation into the incident continues.”

Anyone with information should contact Cleveland Police on 101.

Sorry tale of Dr. Haneef’s widow: ‘Police ruined my once happy life’

Police killed my husband in fake encounter. Today I and my 3 innocent children are left supportless. Police’s brutality has ruined my once happy life. I seek justice from Telangana government and I have no faith in state and central police. I demand judicial probe into fake encounter in which my husband was killed so that I and my 3 innocent children get justice. Sobbing inconsolably near the body of her husband, widow of Dr. Haneef R/O Musheerabad who was killed in police encounter occurred near Alair on Wednesday morning, told this.

She revealed that all the witnesses produced by the police against my husband declared my husband as innocent. Police totally failed in proving my husband guilty and my husband’s acquittal was likely next month but police shot on armless man in the name of encounter so that he could not remain alive.

Muslims non Muslims alike who were impressed by the goodness of Dr. Haneef thronged to have his last glimpse. Non-Muslim women told that Dr. Haneef treated poor and destitute without fee and was a righteous person.

Siasat news

North East Chamber of Commerce: Next government needs pro-business approach

A pro-business focus is required by the next UK Government if confidence is to remain high across the private sector, the North East Chamber of Commerce (NECC) has claimed.

The Chamber’s latest Quarterly Economic Survey has revealed many businesses are planning to cut back on investment.

With the General Election looming, businesses are winding down on investment in both plant and training, which matches anecdotal feedback that firms are waiting to see who will form the next Government before making significant decisions on investment.

NECC Policy and Research Manager, Mark Stephenson, said: “Whoever is in government after the next election must introduce pro-business policies to ensure that drops in confidence and investment do not persist for too long.

“It has been our businesses that have driven forward the recovery and without sustained growth then nothing else is possible. It is vital that this hard won recovery is not placed in jeopardy by uncertainty.”

Encouragingly, domestic market indicators across the service sector show a rise in sales and orders, while manufacturing remains healthy despite a slight decrease on last quarter.

NECC launched the first Quarterly Economic Survey of 2015 and while growth has slowed since record figures recorded in early-2014, the latest results demonstrate that last year’s optimism is turning into genuine economic growth.

Mark added: “Indicators show that across the service sector domestic sales and orders balances rose and that manufacturing balances remain robust even if they have dropped back compared to the end of last year.

“In other areas, we saw mixed results. Export indicators show manufacturers experiencing a fall but remained steady for service firms.

“What is reassuring is that confidence remains high in both manufacturing and service firms, with both expecting to see increases in turnover and profitability over the next 12 months.”

The latest QES also shows that firms are expecting to spend less on recruitment and training of workforces, but most respondents are more optimistic about future profitability and turnover.

There are also increases on cashflow and prices both over the last quarter and when compared to last year’s figures.

“Like last Quarter, there is much to remain optimistic about,” said Mark. “The most important thing for business now is that we secure a supportive Government that introduces policies that not only stimulate growth, but further empower firms to continue to the good work we have seen over the last two years.”

Energy consultant planning to create 50 job on Teesside

An energy consultant is planning to create 50 job on Teesside.

Darren Sutherland and Bob Moore’s brokerage - Utilities Alliance - aims to offer Teesside firms a way of slashing their ever-growing energy bills.

The pair is also planning a jobs boost for Hartlepool as their company based at Queens Meadow Business Park takes off, including 16 apprentices by the end of the year and 50 staff “by year two”.

Utilities Alliance uses the combined bulk-buying power of all its customers to access cheaper energy market prices.

It searches UK and European suppliers and promises to leave “no stone unturned” when searching for the best deal.

Darren and Bob worked for a large plc - and decided to go it alone, after watching the company expand from 13 to 750 staff in five years.

Bob said: “It’s very simple - we find a better deal for business customers in today’s energy market.

“There is about 70% of businesses currently don’t use an energy consultant or broker they just think it’s a bill that’s there to be paid.

“We can come in, put a proposal together for them, it’s non-intrusive they don’t have to do anything.

“Everybody needs to reduce their bills, why not make it more refined and a lot easier for people? It makes sense.”

“We’ve searched through about 45 different suppliers in the UK and Europe. We get together all the energy consumptions as a group, like group purchasing, a consortium.

“Hartlepool Council has done something similar, where households have bought energy as a group. We are doing it for businesses.

“Darren and I worked together for a large plc - we almost worked as a franchise, generating business by ourselves. We thought ‘why are we doing this for somebody else when we could do it for ourselves?’

“We want to bring employment to the area. The company I worked for started with 13 staff five years ago, now it employs 750 people.”

The pair has employed two apprentices, two interns from Teesside University and two senior consultants to get things off the ground.

Darren added: “We want to bring more employment to the area, this is a hub for big companies.

“We want to look at reducing energy costs for companies, at the moment there’s a lot of unscrupulous dealings going on.”

Post mortem set to be held after 'unexplained' death of woman found in Saltburn house

A post mortem examination is set to be held tomorrow after a woman’s body was found in a Saltburn house.

The 29-year-old woman was found in a property in Pearl Street at about 5pm on Monday.

Police were called to the scene after receiving reports of a sudden death.

A spokeswoman for Cleveland Police said the death is currently being treated as unexplained.

Park Christmas Savings: Woman charged with fraud after pair claim they were conned

A woman has been charged with fraud after allegedly conning out two friends of Christmas cash.

The 24-year-old was arrested by police in December and was released on bail pending further inquiries.

But Cleveland Police has since confirmed that the Billingham woman has been charged with three counts of fraud by false representation and will appear at Teesside Magistrates’ Court on May 1.

As reported, two friends spoke to The Gazette last year claiming they were allegedly conned out of cash they thought was going towards festive savings scheme.

Jacquelyn Allan, of Billingham, and Sharon Brown, of Norton, both thought they were paying into the Park Christmas Savings scheme.

But after handing over £900 each and receiving no vouchers, they claim they later discovered a third woman, who was responsible for paying into the trio’s scheme, has not paid the money to the company.

Driver spared jail after drinking eight pints before crashing van following 80mph police chase

A contractor who had drunk eight pints of lager before crashing his van following an 80mph police chase in Redcar, has been spared jail.

Industrial cleaner Kevin Greenway, 25, said he could remember very little of the 4am drive last June.

Police saw his van swerving from side-to-side on West Dyke Road, Redcar, before it hit the kerb on a roundabout.

They switched on their blue lights and sirens but Greenway accelerated to 80mph in a 30mph zone, still swerving.

Prosecutor David Crook said that the vehicle bounced over speed bumps and it clipped the nearside kerb blowing two tyres.

Then it spun around and it wrecked a house porch and a garden wall, even damaging the passageway inside the home.

Greenway refused to take a breathalyser test.

Mr Crook added: “But he said that he had drunk eight pints of lager at a pub where he was staying.

“He could not recall much until he woke up in police custody.”

Greenway had been disqualified for 24 months just four months earlier.

Nicola Horton, defending, said that Greenway now acknowledged that he had been an alcoholic at the time.

His crash left the van a write-off and he had paid £1500 in insurance excess. His firm later went bust.

Miss Horton added: “I accept that it is a very poor account of driving, but he has since taken very great steps to change his life.

“He stopped drinking alcohol 10 months ago, and he lives with his girlfriend and their baby, and he has a new job.”

The judge told Greenway that he had just avoided going to prison for a year.

Judge Peter Bowers said: “You should know that my attitude to anyone involved in a police chase is that almost inevitably they receive a custodial sentence because they are a danger to the public.”

Greenway, of Bargoed, Glamorgan, was given a 12-month jail sentence suspended for 18 months with supervision, 200 hours unpaid work, banned for two years and until he passes an extended driving test, and ordered to pay £500 Prosecution costs and £400 compensation.

He pleaded guilty to dangerous driving on June 26, aggravated vehicle taking, driving while disqualified, and refusing to take a breathalyser test.

Karanka admits he joked with Ben Gibson about links to Manchester City and Liverpool

Aitor Karanka says he's not concerned that Ben Gibson has been linked with a move to the Premier League.

Over the weekend, media speculation claimed Manchester City and Liverpool were considering making a £10m bid for the England Under-21 international.

It's not the first, and it won't be the last, story linking Boro's prize assets with a Premier League club.

A relaxed Karanka admitted he even had a joke with Gibson about the story.

“We were joking about that,” he said, before adding, “I am not concerned because Gibbo is mature.

“He knows that if he is now playing in the Championship and he has the opportunity to go to another team for £10m or £12m, imagine if he is playing in the Premier League with Middlesbrough.”

Teesside-born Gibson , a lifelong Boro fan and nephew of chairman Steve Gibson, has been one of the club's stand-out performers this season, winning a regular place in the starting line-up for both club and country.

Fitness permitting, he will travel to the 2015 Under-21 European Championships in the summer with Gareth Southgate's squad.

And, if Boro achieve their dream of winning promotion, he will be playing Premier League football next season without leaving his native Middlesbrough.

Karanka has nothing but praise for the talented defender.

“He grew up here, he is Steve's nephew, he's very mature and sometimes it's a surprise how mature he is when he is just 22-years-old.

“He knows he is important for this team and has a very good future.”

Dani Ayala and Ryan Fredericks in contention to play against Rotherham

Dani Ayala and Ryan Fredericks are in contention to play against Rotherham at the weekend.

The Spanish centre-back returned to the training ground this week after missing three games due to a thigh strain he first suffered at Blackpool in February.

On loan right-back Fredericks, meanwhile, had an injection in his hamstring injury earlier this week and is expected to be named in the matchday squad.

Grant Leadbitter is suspended for two games after picking up his 10 booking of the season at Watford on Easter Monday with Adam Forshaw and Dean Whitehead battling to fill the vacancy.