Gordon Strachan insists he does not have a point to prove after being unveiled as the new Middlesbrough manager.

The 52-year-old was confirmed as Gareth Southgate's successor at the Coca-Cola Championship club yesterday on a four-year contract and is charged with the task of guiding Boro back into the Barclays Premier League at the first attempt.

Strachan will be assisted by his trusty right-hand man Gary Pendrey, but the former Celtic manager revealed he would be keeping Southgate's backroom staff.

The flame-haired Scotsman left Parkhead in May after failing to secure the Scottish Premier League title, but he won six trophies during his reign at the Glasgow giants and became only the third manager in their history to win three consecutive SPL titles.

Strachan cut his teeth in management at Coventry, where he worked wonders to keep the Sky Blues up before eventually suffering relegation and he was sacked early in the following season.

The diminutive former Manchester United and Scotland midfielder then took over at Southampton, where he transformed the south-coast club from Premier League strugglers to a team who featured in the FA Cup final and qualified for the UEFA Cup, before stepping down in February 2004.

And Strachan does not feel aggrieved that he fails to get the credit that he deserves.

He said: "No, I've not got a problem with that."

Referring to the job he did at Coventry, Strachan added: "I'd say to any manager in the bottom 10 (in the Premier League) just now, if you say to the chairman 'I can keep you in that division for four years, would you accept it?' I think he would.

"Southampton was a wonderful, wonderful experience and I enjoyed every minute of it.

"Celtic was truly fantastic and I hope that this can be as enjoyable because I like to enjoy myself when I'm working."

Strachan also revealed that he had rejected offers to return to management before agreeing to replace Southgate, who was sacked after last Tuesday's 2-0 win over Derby despite Boro being fourth in the Championship table.

Strachan said: "I've been very, very lucky when I was out that I had things to contemplate.

"For one reason or another it just wasn't right for me and this is the one I thought was right."

Strachan also denied that he was lining up moves for a number of Celtic players, with the likes of Gary Caldwell linked with a move to Teesside.

"I spoke to Gordon McQueen (Boro scout), there are one or two players we're trying to get sorted out but we've not got to the January thing."