Steve Gibson committed to Middlesbrough - Neil Bausor

Gibson has been involved with Middlesbrough for more than 25 years

Middlesbrough chief operating officer Neil Bausor has reassured supporters that chairman Steve Gibson remains committed to the club.

Gibson has bankrolled Boro as chairman since 1994, overseeing top flight and European football before relegation to the Championship in 2009.

"I don't see Steve leaving for a very, very long time," Bausor told BBC Tees.

"Steve's not a quitter, he's a fighter, and he'll continue to fight for Middlesbrough Football Club."

The decline on the field for Middlesbrough has been rapid. Only five seasons ago the club were beaten by Sevilla in the Uefa Cup final - European football's second most prestigious club competition - but now find themselves in the bottom half of the second tier of English football.

Bausor added: "It's not for me to speak for Steve Gibson, but if anyone thinks Steve is content with where we are as a club they're sadly mistaken.

"He is passionate about getting the club back to the success we achieved There are constraints, we are balancing the revenues with the costs, and those challenges will have to be faced.

Middlesbrough supporters have enjoyed success under Gibson's tenure

"That should not be misinterpreted as a lack of commitment from Steve Gibson.

"He's put a lot of his life and finance into putting this club where it is. We're fortunate to be playing in a modern stadium, we've got a fantastic training ground, we are not enjoying the best of times at the moment, we're not where anybody at the club wants to be.

"Steve is absolutely committed, 150%, always has been from the time he joined, from the time he, along with the consortium, help rescued the club from almost certain extinction in 1986, from when he was working with Tony Mowbray as a player right through until the present day.

"Steve continues to be passionate and supportive of his staff, the manager and the club, and will continue to do that.

"I read ridiculous comments about the club going into administration when we're 10 points clear [of the relegation zone], well we're now 12 points clear and I don't see us in administration, so hopefully that rumour should now be dispelled."

The Teessiders' attempts to return to the top flight will be affected by the loss of parachute payments from the Premier League following their final payment of around £8m in the summer.

Therefore much of the club's income will be generated through player movements and crucially, the matchday income from attendances.

"It will be our most important revenue stream next season," Bausor added.

"Gone are the days of the Premier League money to fund the majority of the club's operations, predominantly wages of players.

"We are now existing on a far lower revenue base than we ever were, and season cards represent the most significant income stream of the club, so it's vital.

"We reduce the income, it's a self-fulfilling prophecy, it's less money to put into the club and reduces the chances of success.

"We've seen this year that putting money into the club doesn't necessarily bring success, but we are confident that the manager we have now is going to put the right building blocks in place to take us forward."