Middesbrough head coach Aitor Karanka has revealed that he and departed assistant Craig Hignett had their "differences".

The Championship club announced earlier today that 44-year-old Hignett would leave his role after eight months.

"We had differences in our decisions and points of view," Karanka told Boro's website this afternoon.

"All of us want the best for our club and we have talked, and we agreed that this is the best for the club. I just want to say thanks to Higgy.

"He was my first assistant. I said on Saturday morning that he was very important these past eight months and I know how important he is for this club. I wish him all the best because he deserves all the best."

Hignett, who scored 48 goals as a Boro player between 1992 and 1998, joined the club from Hartlepool United.