West Ham look to have admitted defeat in their bid to lure Manchester United assistant manager Steve McClaren to Upton Park.
McClaren had held talks with West Ham with a view to taking over from Harry Redknapp as Hammers boss but it now seems Premiership rivals Middlesbrough are his preferred option.
"It looks like Steve won't be coming after all," admitted West Hams managing director Paul Aldridge on the club's website whufc.co.uk.
"We were due to meet him again today but he has told us he is going back to talk to Middlesbrough.
"It's disappointing but a factor must be that he doesn't have to move his family down to London."
It is not clear what role McClaren could play at Boro with Terry Venables yet to decide if he will stay as first team coach or return to his television work, and the position of Bryan Robson also unsure.
PA