Middlesbrough owner Steve Gibson has insisted that Aitor Karanka's departure from the club was nothing to do with his training-ground clash with Stewart Downing.
Karanka left the club after a ten Premier League games without a win left the club in the relegation zone with 11 games left to play.
However the Spaniard's tenure was also marred by his criticism of the club's fans and reports of dressing room unrest.
Sportsmail revealed that Karanka's bust-up with Downing, a fan favourite at Boro, proved the death knell for the Spaniard's time at the Riverside.