Boro have recovered from a disappointing start to the new season to increase optimism on Teesside that they can make progress this season despite the summer departures of big-name strikers Mark Viduka and Ayegbeni Yakubu.

Under Southgate's predecessor Steve McClaren, the Teessiders claimed their first ever piece of major silverware, the 2004 Carling Cup, and enjoyed two successful European campaigns, one of which saw them lose to Sevilla in the 2006 UEFA Cup final.

McClaren's departure for England days later saw a new era ushered in at the Riverside Stadium under a fledgling new manager.

Southgate managed a creditable 12th-place finish in the Barclays Premier League in his first season in charge, but now Gibson is setting his sights higher.

"Over the next five years we want to win another cup and we want to be in Europe more often than not," said Gibson.

"We want to make the next 10 years more successful than the last 10. We want to continue making and breaking new records for the club."

The chairman's comments came during a BBC Tees fans' forum which is to be broadcast tonight.

Gibson's reign extends back more than 20 years, and has taken the club from the brink of bankruptcy to relative top-flight comfort.

The businessman, who has invested heavily in both the club's infrastructure and playing staff over the years, has seen their competitors pay out millions once again this summer.

However, he will not be persuaded to spend beyond Boro's means and is confident they are continuing to compete.

He said: "I'm not concerned with what other clubs do, but right now, we are in 12th place in the Premier League and that tells me we are competing," he said.

"We have spent $57million on new players this summer. When I'm asked about the club, everything seems to be about money, money, money.

"But we have so much else going for us, like the Academy. You don't have to spend millions on players. Players like Julio Arca and Luke Young are proving great value for money."

Southgate has made it his mission to provide entertaining football for the fans, and is confident the addition of the likes of Mido, Jeremie Aliadiere and Tuncay Sanli this summer will help achieve that.

Gibson wholeheartedly agrees with that policy and is hopeful that supporters will vote with their feet - only 22,920 spectators watched Saturday's 2-0 league victory over Birmingham, about 11,000 below capacity..

He said: "We have got to let our football do the talking. We have got to give Gareth the patience and time to build a team that can bring back the fans."

Boro return to action at big-spending West Ham a week on Saturday, when last-minute transfer window signing Gary O'Neil will hope for a debut.

The 24-year-old's move from Portsmouth was only completed after the two clubs re-negotiated the $12.5million deal following a hitch with his medical.

It is understood Boro have paid around $6million up front and will hand over the balance depending on a significant number of appearances and other considerations.

Meanwhile, young defender David Wheater has revealed he has been given a new nickname by his team-mates.

The 20-year-old Redcar-born player has been a revelation at the heart of the club's defence in the absence of the injured Emanuel Pogatetz, and as a result, has been dubbed "Pally" after former Boro, Manchester United and England star Gary Pallister.

Wheater, currently on international duty with England's Under-21s, told the club's official website, www.mfc.co.uk: "Stewie Downing texted me today and called me 'Pally', so I think it's stuck in the dressing room.

"I can't say I've seen a lot of him play, but from what I have heard, he was a fantastic player - and I wouldn't mind all of those trophies, that's for sure."