"I think" - Claim made on Middlesbrough FC owner Steve Gibson's transparency with supporters | OneFootball

FLW's Middlesbrough fan pundit has been speaking on whether the transparency shown by chairman/owner Steve Gibson is good enough.

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Middlesbrough chairman Steve Gibson is one of the most admired and well-respected owners in English football.

The local 67-year-old entrepreneur is a boyhood Boro fan, and he played a vital role in saving the club from liquidation in 1986.

He's been performing his role as chairman since 1994, and has overseen some of Boro's greatest days and most successful eras, including a 2004 League Cup win, two UEFA Cup campaigns and many years as a Premier League club.

Despite seeing his club largely reside in the Championship in more recent times, Gibson's hunger and desire to see the Riverside Stadium - the construction of which he was instrumental in - host top flight football once again is as strong as ever.

"They listen to the fanbase" - Middlesbrough, Steve Gibson transparency claim made

We asked our Middlesbrough fan pundit, Jasper Hudson: 'Is Steve Gibson transparent enough with the Middlesbrough fanbase or not in your eyes?'

Hudson said: "I think the ownership is transparent, and Steve Gibson, Kieran Scott do a particularly good job.

"Press conferences, talking about transfers, and even with the potential changing of our badge. That's all been done through fan forums and fan interaction.

"So, it's nice to know that they listen to the fanbase. There's a few things that as a fan, they don't say that you know are going to happen, like with the season ticket prices.

"But I think that's just part of modern day football. It's not perfect. But, it's very rare that you're going to be able to have things entirely your way as a fan.

"So, I would say that the board and Steve Gibson are transparent for the most part, and they do a pretty good job of keeping the fans updated, and ultimately doing what's best for the football club and the fans."

Steve Gibson has been coming under added scrutiny by sections of Middlesbrough support in recent years

Gibson's commitment to seeing Middlesbrough Football Club succeed has never, and will never be questioned by Middlesbrough supporters.

It's his relentless and consistent funding out of his own back pocket that has kept the club financially stable and competitive in the Championship for so many years, with this being further underlined when it was revealed he'd effectively wrote off £135m of debt in the 2023/24 financial season.

“I don’t think it’s fair to say about commitment from them,” Michael Carrick said when speaking on Gibson's commitment to the club in January this year.

“There’s no way on earth you could ever question the commitment of anybody at this football club - whether that’s at the very top, for what they’ve done day in and day out to try and make this great club better."

However, recent decisions to cash in on key players mid-season such as Morgan Rogers and Emmanuel Latte Lath, has seen some Boro fans question whether Premier League promotion is still the primary objective, or has the desire to sign players and sell them for big profits overtaken that?

Riverside regulars pay some of the most costly prices in the Championship to watch their team play, and with Carrick's side potentially staring at another season in the second tier next season, and indeed possibly back-to-back campaigns without a play-off finish, frustrations have been mounting on Teesside with the lack of progress on the pitch this term.

But, if there's one person who will be hurting more than anyone, it's Gibson. So, whilst he may not be the most visible in terms of interviews and speaking directly to the fans, his commitment to the Teesside cause can't be questioned.