Garry Monk says Middlesbrough provided him with the long-term stability Leeds United could not
New Boro boss says he instantly knew the Riverside job was the right challenge after leaving Elland Road
GARRY MONK says Middlesbrough provided him the long-term stability that Leeds United could not.
The 38-year-old was unveiled as Boro’s new manager on Monday and immediately targeted promotion this season.
Former Swansea boss Monk walked out of Elland Road after 12 months at the helm in May.
He was linked with several clubs, including Hull City and Sunderland, but the Riverside outfit won the race to secure his services.
And he said after speaking to chairman Steve Gibson and chief executive Neil Bausor, his new job ticked all the boxes.
Monk said: “As soon as I spoke to Middlesbrough, I knew it was the situation and opportunity that I wanted to take.
MOST READ IN FOOTBALL
“I have signed for three years and I would to make it at the first attempt. But this club is equipped and ready and the ambition of all of us is to get back up at the first time of asking.
“It is good to have that clarity. The club are also quite far down the line in terms of organisation and the determination with what they wanted to do and that ties in with myself and having those ideas and they aligned really well.
“The key is the opportunity and understanding of what the club wants to do and how we are going to go about it. The clarity of that is what appeals most.”
On his exit from Leeds, he continued: “It is important to make clear it was two separate situations.
“Obviously, there was the situation with Leeds in having the season I had and expecting them to go forward with that process and be at Leeds in terms of discussing with the new owners.
“We couldn’t find that (agreement) and I then became a manager without a job. Obviously, I am ambitious and want to be working and find that right challenge, which is something I always wanted.
“All of those tick boxes that I needed to go forward with a football club, Middlesbrough had.
“As the season finished and having that three or four weeks afterwards to finally sit down with Leeds and try and discuss what that structure and new process would be; I have to be honest it wasn’t right for me.
“I won’t really go into the details of it, but there were things that didn’t suit me and I couldn’t find that clear process of how to go forward from that point and obviously made that decision. The next process was to look and find that right challenge that I wanted.
“I spoke to Middlesbrough and it was everything in terms of the challenge I wanted.”