Nigel Pearson interested in Middlesbrough manager job

Former Leicester manager Nigel Pearson has revealed on Goals on Sunday that he is interested in the Middlesbrough job for next season.

After Aitor Karanka was sacked in March, caretaker manager Steve Agnew saw Boro relegated on Monday after one season back in the top flight.

Pearson played at Middlesbrough between 1994 and 1998, and has been out of a job since October after leaving Derby.

When asked whether he'd be interested in the vacant position, Pearson told Goals on Sunday: "Yeah, I would be. You have a good chance to come up if you keep the right players together, for sure.

"Out of the Premier League for seven years, they worked hard to get back there, and it's been a year that they'll reflect on maybe with some regret. It's certainly disappointing.

"Having been there myself for four years, it's a really good club."

Middlesbrough will be among the favourites for promotion next season, but Pearson insists their chances will depend on the mood around the Riverside Stadium, and says that their movements in the transfer market will also be vital.

"A lot depends on the mood of the players, how they react to relegation. There's going to be talk of players leaving, for sure.

"You have to keep that cycle of bringing new players in."