NEIL WARNOCK is reportedly refusing to take any money from Middlesbrough until Championship safety is confirmed.

The veteran took charge of the North East side last month after they dropped into the relegation zone with a 3-0 home defeat to Swansea.

He described the job as the “hardest” of his long career but has guided them to three wins out of seven and the brink of safety.

However, despite jumping straight into his new job alongside assistants Kevin Blackwell and Ronnie Jepson, he has not even discussed wages yet with Boro owner Steve Gibson.

The Athletic claim “in spite of repeated attempts by Gibson to engage Warnock in talks about his salary, Warnock has insisted on concentrating on the task in hand” and is happy to wait until the end of the season.

Despite an upturn in results under him, Boro’s dreadful home form continued on Saturday as they went down 3-1 to Warnock’s old club Cardiff, leaving them winless at the Riverside since Boxing Day.

That left them two points above the drop zone ahead of their final game at Sheffield Wednesday.

They will be safe as long as Wigan do not successfully appeal their 12-point deduction.

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It remains to be seen whether the 71-year-old Warnock will stay next season.

But Gibson is understood to have been impressed by his man-management and passion.

And he is expected to offer the highly-experienced boss the job full-time once they eventually sit down to discuss money.

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