AFTER a management career that has taken him to Panama and Switzerland, Neil was appointed in 2007 to review the club's operational and commercial activities, including all customer-facing aspects.

"One of my first observations was that the club needs to get back alongside our supporters and bring MFC and the fans closer together again," says Neil, who has previously worked with chemical companies such as ICI and more recently Syngenta.

"The passion of our fans is one of our main assets both on and off the field and there appears to be a number of areas where fans seem dissatisfied with their experiences with the club.

Neil believes there is every reason for the club and fans to be proud of how far Boro have come in recent years, but it is clear that there are opportunities to build on what is there and improve, refresh and drive the club forward.

"In Steve Gibson we have a solid chairman who is a lifelong supporter and steadfastly believes in MFC, the fans and the area.

"As the chairman has frequently said, this football club exists for the supporters. We know that we need to change to ensure that this traditional bond is stronger than ever, while at the same times acknowledging that we are a business.

"We need to maximise our commercial opportunities and optimise our costs to ensure we provide as much funding as possible to support our playing aspirations."