Middlesbrough boss Rob Edwards has been stood down from Saturday’s Championship fixture against Birmingham City, amid growing interest from Wolverhampton Wanderers in appointing him as their next manager.
Wolves had an official approach to speak with Edwards rejected by Middlesbrough on Thursday. The 41-year-old was later involved in lengthy discussions with the club’s hierarchy on Friday, leading to his absence from both the pre-match press conference and the final training session.
Tension builds as Wolves push for talks
It has now emerged that Edwards will not take charge of the home fixture at the Riverside Stadium, with uncertainty surrounding his immediate future. Middlesbrough currently sit third in the Championship table and have made a strong start under Edwards, who signed a three-year contract in June after succeeding Michael Carrick.
Wolves searching for new leadership
The managerial situation at Wolves intensified earlier this week after the club parted ways with Vitor Pereira. His dismissal followed a 10-match winless run that left the Premier League side bottom of the table, four points from safety.
After Pereira’s exit, former Luton Town manager Edwards quickly emerged as one of Wolves’ top choices to take charge. Gary O’Neil, another contender and a former Wolves boss, withdrew from the running on Monday, leaving Edwards as the leading candidate.
A familiar face at Molineux
Edwards’ deep ties with Wolves make the move a sentimental one. The former Wales international made over 100 appearances for the club between 2004 and 2008, before returning as a youth coach and later serving briefly as interim manager in 2016.
Coaching journey across leagues
Since retiring in 2013, Edwards has built his reputation steadily, managing non-league Telford and England’s Under-16 side before leading Forest Green Rovers to League Two promotion in 2022. His next stop, Watford, ended after just 11 matches, but he went on to guide Luton Town to a historic Premier League promotion the following year.
Although Luton were relegated in 2024, Edwards earned widespread respect for his tactical acumen and calm leadership. His growing reputation now seems to have brought him full circle — back to the club where his coaching story first began.
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