Get the latest Boro stories straight to your inbox with our daily newsletter Enter your email Thank you for subscribing See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Tony Pulis says Middlesbrough have made "enormous" inroads into cutting club costs - while at the same time building a squad that he believes is stronger than last season's.

The manager believes his squad is still short in certain areas and has again strongly hinted that he'll be looking to add players in the January window.

But he says the transfer business conducted in the time he has been at Boro so far has been done "in a good way, to protect the football club".

Pulis wanted to show chairman Steve Gibson that he was interested in the long term stability of the club. And he believes he's done that in the 10 months he's been manager so far.

Speaking at his press conference at Rockliffe on Friday morning, Pulis said: "We've got a good squad that's been strengthened (in the summer).

"There's been a big changeover of players here. We've brought in some very good and solid professionals, which we needed, without a question of doubt.

"We've done it in a good way, we've protected the football club. What Steve, myself and everyone connected with the club have done, we've actually cut an enormous loss from last year in the the amount of money that Steve has spent...and we've brought a lot back in. And we've got a better squad.

"We're still short in certain areas, everyone knows that. But the lads have been fantastic. They're good people."

(Image: Ian Cooper)

Asked about his relationship with Gibson, Pulis said: "I worked closely with the chairman at Stoke for 10 years, you have to have that trust.

"When you come into a club...Steve has known me for a long time but we'd never worked together. It's like a marriage, you can court someone for a long time but when you're married and living in each other's shoes it's different.

"There's got to be trust and doing it the way we have has given Steve the trust that we are concerned about the club and not just one individual person in it."

Pulis hailed the "strong characters" in his squad and praised all the players for helping Boro get off to a flying start in the Championship, with the side having only lost one of their 11 games so far as well as reaching the last 16 of the Carabao Cup.

The manager has again hinted, though, that he'll look to strengthen in January.

He said: "When the window opens we'll look at what's necessary to take us further."