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Boro axe coaches

Boro coach
Image: Cooper: Axed

Middlesbrough have announced that backroom staff Colin Cooper, Stephen Pears and Martin Scott have left the club.

Cooper, Pears and Scott depart Riverside

Middlesbrough have announced that backroom staff Colin Cooper, Stephen Pears and Martin Scott have left the club. First-team coach Cooper, goalkeeping coach Pears and reserve chief Scott have all been axed as manager Gordon Strachan look to rework his staff. Cooper - who served the club for 15 years as a player in two different spells - leaves after being promoted to first-team duties by former manager Gareth Southgate in 2006. He also served as caretaker following Southgate's exit last year. Pears, who like Cooper enjoyed a distinguished playing spell with Boro, has served as first-team goalkeeping coach since 2007, following a spell with the club's academy. Scott was Under-18 coach before becoming reserve boss in 2008. "Manager Gordon Strachan is planning for the future following the end of the Coca-Cola Championship season," chief executive Keith Lamb said. "The manager wishes to make changes as we plan for a sustained promotion campaign next season and, as a consequence, the difficult decision to terminate the contracts of Colin, Stephen and Martin has been made. "We thank all three for their services to the club and wish them all the very best in the future."