This is a modal window.
Steve Agnew sent his Middlesbrough players off for their summer break not knowing if he will be there to greet them on their return.
The man asked to step into head coach Aitor Karanka's shoes in March held a meeting with the squad on Monday morning, a day after a season which delivered an instant return to the Championship drew to a close with a 3-0 Premier League defeat at Liverpool.
Some of the players will not be back -- Valencia striker Alvaro Negredo and Arsenal defender Calum Chambers have returned to their respective clubs after their loan deals drew to a close, while Brad Guzan is to join MLS side Atlanta United and much-decorated fellow keeper Victor Valdes seems unlikely to stay for life in the second tier.