Neil Warnock reveals his input on Middlesbrough's recruitment plans and what he said to Steve Gibson

The 71-year-old joined Boro with eight games to go last month with a remit to keep the Teessiders in the Championship.

It’s still unclear whether Warnock will stay at Boro beyond the end of the season due to the short-term nature of his appointment, yet the straight-talking Yorkshireman knows there must be some long-term planning.

“All I can do at the moment is try to advise the club,” said Warnock when asked about his involvement in Boro’s recruitment plans.

“You can’t ignore next season or not pay any attention to things you need to do in the future. We had a meeting yesterday with the two heads of recruitment and that took a couple of hours because we had to give our input.

"I think managers are important when it comes to giving their input about what you’re looking for, what positions you’re looking for and what type of players you want.

"I know different managers have different types and things like that, but if possible, I would like to think I could help the club in the next few weeks regarding that type of planning.

"It’s alright having meetings though, we’ve got so many games in such a short space of time that you’ve just got to concentrate on them really.

"Yes, by all means you can have a quick chat, but I think the really detailed planning has to come after the last game really or whenever we know where we are.”

Since he arrived on Teesside Warnock has given an honest assessment of Boro’s squad, admitting there is a lack of natural leaders and defenders.

Regardless of who the manager is, those areas will have to be addressed over the summer, and Warnock says a few names have already been mentioned during recent conversations.

“When you’re looking for a type of player, if you want a defender, you want a defender. I don’t think there’s any rocket science if I’m honest,” Warnock added.

“I think we’ve got a lot of forward-looking defenders, but not many defending defenders. Whether I’m here or not, you tell your recruitment team that the club’s got to have some defenders for next season.

“There has to be a priority in those positions. It doesn’t really matter who’s in charge, you’ve still got to be looking for the players. I’ve given my advice on what I felt the club needed, and then the two chaps are going to come up with some names.

“We discussed quite a few yesterday on the English market and in Europe. It’s getting the right ones really. I think it’s important, if you can, that you have a personal knowledge of the players you’re signing.

“You’ve got to speak to people that you know who know these players and find out about their attitudes and other things. I’m not sure that’s been done enough in the past, not just at Middlesbrough, but everywhere.

“You tend to sign players and then find out that they don’t fit in, but that can’t happen as much now because money is so tight.”

During his first few weeks at Boro Warnock has repeatedly praised the club’s facilities and set-up at Rockliffe Training Ground.

When discussing a summer restructure, he therefore makes it clear that he’s talking about the current make-up of the squad rather than a complete transformation.

“I probably used the wrong word really,” said Warnock when asked what a restructure would involve.

“We have so many of the same type of players, so I think you’ve got to look at the squad and try to restructure it so that you cater for every avenue.

“You need a more balanced squad. I don’t mean the club. Crikey, the club is unbelievable off the field. Neil Bausor does a fantastic job. They’ve got everything here. It’s just the squad I meant when I used that word."

Warnock has previously said he hasn’t even discussed financial aspects with chairman Steve Gibson after joining the club last month.

That remains the case with four games to go, as Warnock continues to focus on the relegation battle.

“Steve and I have known each other a long time,” replied Warnock when asked about the chances of him staying on next season. "What I said to Steve is, ‘Let’s discuss that at the end of the season’. A, I might not want to stay. But B, he might not want me to stay either.

“There’s no contract, we’ve not even discussed money or anything like that. That’s not the important issue, the important issue is getting over that flaming line and getting security in the Championship.

“It’s my favourite league by a mile – I’ve got goose pimples now talking about it. It’s a fabulous league and I love competing in this league, especially at the top end.

“I’m not overly-keen on where we are now, I’d like to think we were pushing for those play-offs and having an end of the season run to try to get into the promised land, because that’s what I like.”