Middlesbrough lose again as boss Kranka misses game

Middlesbrough boss, Aitor Karanka did not take charge of Middlesbrough against Charlton on Sunday - in a game his side lost 2-0. Karanka did not travel for Boro's 2-0 defeat against Charlton  with assistant manager Steve Agnew taking charge of the team.

Instead, Middlesbrough are expected to confirm the departure of manager  Karanka in the coming days, Sky Sports News HQ understands.

The Middlesbrough boss is understood to have stormed out of the club's Rockcliffe Training Ground on Friday after telling his players he no longer wanted to be their manager and was subsequently absent from Saturday's training session.

In a heated exchange, the 42-year-old is believed to have questioned the team's desire to reach the Premier League following a 1-0 defeat to relegation-threatened Rotherham on Tuesday.

It is understood this is not the first time Karanka has had an altercation with his players this season, having already clashed with wingers Albert Adomah and Stewart Downing.

And his two-and-a-half year tenure at the club, which included going close to promotion to the Premier League last season, now appears to be coming to an end.

Boro are yet to confirm the reason for Karanka's absence, although they did release a statement on Saturday.

"Aitor did not take training on Saturday morning. Steve Agnew will take charge of the team for Sunday's fixture at Charlton," it read.

"We appreciate supporters will want to know further details, but at this time the club cannot make any further comment and is solely focused on Sunday's game at the Valley."

Speaking to Sky Sports before kick-off at The Valley, Agnew said: "The club have released a statement so we have to just respect the wishes of the club and prepare for a football match."

With Dougie Freedman being sacked by Nottingham Forest - if Kranga goes it will leave only half a dozen managers in the championship who strated in charge in the start of the season.

JB