The Championship is possibly the most competitive league in the world and they will be prepared to welcome three more Premier League clubs next season.
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It is a far cry from Gibson’s younger days when he formed a consortium which helped save the club in 1986 before taking control in his own right in 1994; the year when Bryan Robson was appointed and he delivered promotion before a move to the Riverside the following year.
The former Boro player and manager expects the momentum and energy obtained from promotion to serve the side well in the top-flight of English football. If it wasn’t for him, there wouldn’t even be a Middlesbrough Football Club because he saved it 30 years ago. You can’t be more proud of this group of players, this crowd, this chairman.
In the final round of matches in League Two, the fourth tier of the game in England, Bristol Rovers won promotion in dramatic fashion, beating Dagenham & Redbridge at the last gasp 2-1 while Accrington Stanley’s romantic bid failed at the final hurdle. The decision by chairman Steve Gibson to invest in playing staff for head coach Aitor Karanka was justified as two of the imports he helped finance came to the fore in Stuani and Ramirez.
Cristhian Stuani’s goal, from Gaston Ramirez’s superb free-kick and David Nugent’s touch across, put the hosts on their way in the first half. It means they lift the title with 93 points. “Probably not. This year was our year and I am glad we took that chance”. In the Championship it always goes to the last second. “The atmosphere in that dressing room was absolutely fantastic”.
“This is the best moment in my career”.
Burnley, who secured their promotion on Monday with a 1-0 win over Queens Park Rangers, hammered the already-relegated Charlton, whose manager Jose Riga resigned five months into his 18-month contract soon after the end of the game.
“It is more than deserved”.
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Karanka, inspired by the belief that his side had learned from last season’s play-off final defeat, responded boldly by bringing Stuani back into his line-up and leaving local boy Stewart Downing and striker Jordan Rhodes on the bench.
