Fenced-off Brian Clough statue sent for repairs
Middlesbrough CouncilA statue of footballing legend Brian Clough which has been fenced off in a park has been moved for repairs.
The 7ft (2.1m) bronze sculpture of the famed player and manager has been in Middlesbrough's Albert Park since 2007.
Middlesbrough Council said the statue, which had been fenced off for several years due to a crack in its standing leg, was removed by contractors on Tuesday and repairs were expected to take between six and eight weeks.
Middlesbrough mayor Chris Cooke said he was hopeful the repair meant "generations to come" could enjoy the statue.
The local authority said Clough, who made more than 200 appearances for Middlesbrough FC between 1955 and 1961, would often walk through the park on his way to the club's former ground, Ayresome Park.
The statue by sculptor Vivien Mallock was previously repaired in 2016 but the crack had sincereturned.
For the latest repairs, the council said contractors had tried to remove the statue alongside its base but had been unable to do so.
Instead they had to cut the statue above the knees, it said.
Following the repairs the structure will be put back together by specialist repairers, the council said.
