Chris Wilder has refused to kill off the prospect of him becoming Burnley boss.
The Boro boss is one of the favourites to succeed Sean Dyche, who was sacked last week, along with Derby chief Wayne Rooney. Relegation-threatened Burnley are ready to appoint an interim boss if their top target is immediately “unattainable”, and have started their search.
Wilder insists he is enjoying being Boro boss but says "no one knows what is around the corner." He will need a war chest to rebuild Boro in the summer and will demand a strong promotion challenge if he stays on Teesside.
Boro have slipped out of the top six after just two wins in eight games, including four home defeats on the bounce. Asked about being one of the favourites to replace Sean Dyche, Wilder added: “Burnley? I am an emotional guy and we have got beaten.
“I am the manager of Middlesbrough. It is not right to ask anything like that. It is a disappointing defeat.” Asked why he had not killed the rumour off by pledging his future to Boro, Wilder said: “I am manager of Middlesbrough and no one knows what is around the corner for anything, do they?
“I don’t think there is a way out of talking about it. I think it is really unfair on anyone. So I don’t know what you want me to say. You are after me dropping my guard and saying something daft. I am Middlesbrough manager, I enjoy working at Middlesbrough. What do you want me to come out with, a boring: “I am flattered by it blah blah.” We have not won the game today.”
