Tyne Tees Neil Warnock

Boro offered their thanks to Neil and his staff for all their hard work during their time at the club, after it was agreed by "mutual consent" he would leave.

The 72-year-old equalled Dario Gradi's 1,601 games as a manager during Saturday's 2-0 Sky Bet Championship defeat by Birmingham and will eclipse it at Luton.

Speaking in today's pre-match press conference, the Middlesbrough head coach told journalists he reminds himself of the veteran Coronation Street character.