MIDDLESBROUGH'S matchday programme revealed the club has struck a four-month shirt sponsorship deal with Ramsdens.
The company is believed to be one of the largest family pawnbrokers in the UK. It's fair to say on current form the Boro squad wouldn't fetch much if it were pawned at its new sponsor.
While the Teessiders' stock and support at the Riverside continues to dwindle, the pressure increases on manager Gordon Strachan, whose side lie three points above the League One trap door with nearly a quarter of the season gone.
Some media outlets recorded Saturday's attendance at 13,749. If true, that would represent a record low for a league game at the Riverside beating the previous low against Sheffield United this season.
A club spokesman, however, insisted there were exactly 1,000 more through the turnstiles.
But the fundamental flaws spoken about in Strachan's post-match analysis at Derby now appear to have arisen at home as well as on his team's travels.
Boro again shot themselves in the foot against fellow strugglers Portsmouth.
The hosts looked on course to record a fourth successive home win something not achieved for three seasons now when Matthew Bates and a Barry Robson penalty gave them a 2-0 lead going into the break.
But a lack of concentration allowed David Nugent to head a reply before Liam Lawrence levelled from the spot following a moment of petulance from Robson.
The inspirational midfielder was sent off and penalised for elbowing Aaron Mokoena.
Barry says he reacted to something but I'm not interested at the moment, said Strachan.
It's been a poor start to the season. We were two goals up but we were a wee bit panicky after the break.
I see a few more of our players playing better. It's amazing how all that hard work can be for nothing. We let ourselves down.
The under-pressure Strachan received the midweek backing of his chairman Steve Gibson, who will still back his manager despite calls from supporters to have him replaced by former Ayesome Park favourite Tony Mowbray.
The ex-Celtic boss hardly endeared himself to the fans after Saturday's draw when he responded to a radio journalist who asked: How do you cope with such pressure
by saying: Take drugs, drink and smoke, that kind of thing.
The response may sound insouciant and insensitive to the Boro faithful, although it is fair to say the quip will be enjoyed by all those less sensitive to Strachan's idiosyncratic humour.
In the manager's defence, emotions were running high after the game and Strachan, like the fans, was clearly affected by losing a 2-0 lead and having Robson sent off with his team closing in on three valuable points.
The 53-year-old manager has undoubtedly made mistakes during his 12-month tenure, but surely he must be allowed time to nurture and develop his own side.
One year in the job is hardly enough to get players out, introduce an injection of new staff and turn a relegation side into a promotion outfit which can compete in the Premier League.
Although Middlesbrough fans are struggling to see it at the moment Strachan's side has quality all over the pitch.
And in Jason Steele, David Wheater, Stephen McManus, Robson, Gary O'Neil, Kris Boyd and Scott McDonald, he has a spine as good as most in the Championship.
Had Strachan been successful in his quest to bring in the craft of Charlie Adam and pace and trickery of Wayne Routledge last season, then Boro would, arguably, be playing in the Premier League this term.
That is the fine line between top flight and second tier football.
Promotion to the Premier League may seem like a fairytale at the moment but precedents have been set.
Crystal Palace were fourth bottom of the Championship in 2004 at Christmas, yet were promoted through the playoffs.
Similarly, two years later, North-East rivals Sunderland were struggling near the bottom of the league when Roy Keane took charge at the Stadium of Light, yet they went up as champions.
Making a managerial change for change's sake does not make economic or football sense at the moment.
If by the end of the season Strachan fails to come close to a top-flight return then that will be the time for the chairman, board and manager to have a strategic review.
Alternatively, if they decide to seek a few bob for the players they do at least know a good pawnbroker.
Scoreboard Goals:
1-0: Bates (29, the defender fires through a crowded penalty area from 15 yards when the ball drops from a Robson corner)
2-0: Robson (40, pen, the midfielder blasts past the goalkeeper after Scott McDonald was fouled
2-1: Nugent (60, escapes his marker and gets his head on Lawrence's cross past Steele from six yards)
2-2: Lawrence (87, pen, nets a penalty after linesman spots Robson elbow Mokoena)
Bookings: Bates (56, foul), Wheater (85, dissent)
Sending-off: Robson (85, violent conduct)
Referee: Neil Swarbrick (Preston) the match official got all the big decisions right. His only error was not to book arguably the dirtiest midfielder in the Championship, Michael Brown, for a couple of late challenges 8
Attendance: 14,749
Entertainment:
MIDDLESBROUGH (4-4-2):
6 Steele: Three or four good stops but may feel disappointed not to have stopped Nugent's header
6 McMahon: John Utaka ensured an uncomfortable afternoon
6 McManus: Question marks surrounding the marking on Pompey's opener
6 Wheater: Generally solid but see above
6 Bates: Netted a fine goal but struggled defensively against Lawrence
7 O'Neill: Bust a gut until a tight hamstring forced him off
5 Thompson: Limped off after eight minutes courtesy of serial hacker Michael Brown
7 ROBSON: As always the driving force behind the team but spoilt it with a petulant elbow to the face of Mokoena
5 Halliday: No real impact on the proceedings
7 McDonald: Worked the line well and won a penalty 5Boyd: Had several chances to score but did not take any of them
Subs:
Tavares (for Thompson 8): Broke up play; joined in and did not do much wrong 7
Bailey (for Halliday 52): Passing was a bit wayward 4
Lita (for O'Neil 77) No real influence on proceedings) 5
(Not used): Coyne (gk), Kink, Hines, Bennett
PORTSMOUTH (4-3-3): Ashdown 6; Ward 5 (Kanu 69, 5), Mokoena 6, Rocha 6 (Sonko 85), Dickinson 6; LAWRENCE 8, Mullins 6, Brown 5, Utaka 7; Nugent 7, Kitson 6. Subs (not used): Flahavan (gk), Ritchie, Ciftc, Hughes
MAN OF THE MATCH
LIAM Lawrence Scored one made one. Full of industry and creativity, something Boro would love injected.
Source: Northern Echo
Source: Northern Echo