Gordon Strachan: Watching The X Factor is as stressful as managing Middlesbrough

Gordon Strachan has claimed he’s a softie and says watching his favourite acts lose on X Factor is as stressful as being a football manager.

The new Boro boss has revealed his quirky side, saying he gets just as animated about seeing Simon Cowell throw off talented singers as when his side put in a frustrating performance.

Strachan confessed he lost his rag when Cowell kept Irish twins Jedward in the show at the expense of Welsh singer Lucie Jones and said: “I was jumping at the telly.

“I had my own problems because we had got beat. But it's amazing in football management because you think and get stressed a lot and sometimes need to watch junk TV because there’s no thinking to it - you just watch it.

“I must admit last Sunday I was just recovering and getting ready to go again and the result came through. I thought, 'That’s it, I’m not watching it again'. I don’t think it’s the John and Edward thing - it’s seeing talented people being pushed out of the show. We like to see talented people go to the top.”

Strachan has also shunned Middlesbrough’s famous dish, the Parmo – chicken or veal covered in parmesan cheese – saying: “I come from the place where they deep fry Mars bars. I wouldn’t go anywhere near it. I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy!“

The Scot says is convinced he can make Boro a better team through coaching and talking to his stars. He said: “I’m not hard at all. At times I have to make tough decisions. It’s convincing players that I can make them better and we can work well as a team.

“I enjoy the players’ company and we have a laugh. I’m not hard at all - trust me!"