Middlesbrough chairman Steve Gibson has claimed that the club is doing quite well in the Premiership and did the right thing in letting go Mark Viduka and Yakubu Aiyegbeni this summer.

Australian striker Viduka blamed the Boro officials for not doing enough to persuade him to stay at the Riverside, and went to Newcastle United on a free transfer.

Gibson on the other hand has said that he was feeling 'tainted' by the demands Viduka was making regarding his wages and felt that a new contract would affect the club financially.

"We spoke to him and his agent last Christmas and I was told very early that it was about money and that Mark would go to the highest bidder," said Gibson.

"The wages went up by many millions and I felt almost tainted by it. I felt so uncomfortable that it was almost a relief when he went to Newcastle because of the sums involved.

"A four or five-year deal with players today can be a risk of £25million, decisions have to be precise and detailed.

"Mark Viduka is 32 on his next birthday and he was asking for a three-year contract and asking for a figure which, over a year, would equate to over half of our gate income. He averaged eight goals a season in the Premier League. He turned down a fantastic offer and we move on."

Gibson also feels that Middlesbrough did right in selling off their Nigerian striker Yakubu to Everton claiming the Nigerian "switched off halfway through last season and we still don't know why".