Middlesbrough are in advanced talks with and expected to appoint Rob Edwards as their new head coach, as per Sky Sports’ Rob Dorsett.
Middlesbrough have been on the lookout for a new boss since the decision to relieve Michael Carrick of his duties. Boro made the call a few weeks after the season’s end after a second disappointing campaign.
Despite bright spells, the Teesside outfit struggled to live up to expectations for the most part and ended up finishing 10th.
Several names have been linked with the vacant post at the Riverside Stadium since Carrick’s departure and among them has been Rob Edwards. Now, it seems the 42-year-old is on course to take the reins.
Writing on X, Sky Sports reporter Rob Dorsett has said Edwards is now in advanced talks ahead of a likely appointment as new Middlesbrough head coach.
Sheffield Wednesday boss Danny Rohl and the available Steve Cooper were also on the Borro shortlist, but Edwards has ‘beaten off competition’ to emerge as the preferred candidate.
From here, Dorsett says a deal could move quickly as the Championship side zero in on their new boss after ending Carrick’s tenure following two-and-a-half years at the helm in the North East.
A big chance for Edwards
Edwards gets this opportunity to take over at Middlesbrough off the back of his sacking at Luton Town.
The decision to relieve him of his duties with the Hatters ultimately didn’t change their season. Some may have hoped he would be given the chance to turn things around, especially considering he led them to the Premier League.
Edwards’ stock is still in a good place though. He has been linked with other vacancies alongside the Boro job, but it looks to be the Teesside outfit who have secured his services.
The task ahead at Middlesbrough
For Edwards, the remit will be to get Middlesbrough to the Premier League. However, there are other more specific issues that he must focus his energy on.
There is significant weight placed on the development of players at the Riverside with Carrick overseeing the progress of stars line Hayden Hackney, Rav van den Berg and the departed Morgan Rogers and Emmanuel Latte Lath. Edwards will have to emulate that, helping existing stars push on while aiding the progress of those brought in too.
Perhaps most importantly though, the manager and his medical staff have to resolve the injury situation. For two seasons, such issues ravaged Carrick’s squad, and if that continues under Edwards, he too will struggle to get Boro over the line in the promotion push.
