ROB Edwards is increasingly likely to be the next Middlesbrough head coach, with the Championship club closing in on the appointment of the former Luton manager.
Barring any last-minute issues, everything now points towards Edwards replacing Michael Carrick and taking charge at the Riverside. Talks are at an advanced stage.
Edwards has always featured prominently in Boro’s thinking and emerged as the leading frontrunner in the last week or so, impressing club officials in interviews and talks.
The 42-year-old, who was in the running for the Boro job when Carrick took charge in 2022, was also in contention for the Bristol City job but is understood to have favoured a move to the Riverside.
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Edwards is said to have impressed club officials with his extensive knowledge of Boro’s squad, vision of how he wants his side to play and desire to get back in the dugout after the disappointing end to his time at Luton.
Edwards was sacked as Luton boss in January this year after the Hatters failed to shake off the hangover from their relegation to the Premier League. But Edwards led his unfancied side to the top flight against the odds and Luton made a good fist of staying there, earning more points in the Premier League than any of the other five promoted sides in the last two seasons.
Edwards has another promotion on his record at Forest Green, and also has a strong background in player development, having worked in the youth ranks with England.
He also knows Boro’s head of football Kieran Scott very well, with the pair having previously worked together at Wolves, so Edwards already has an understanding of how the recruitment model works at the Riverside.
Sheffield Wednesday boss Danny Rohl and former Nottingham Forest and Leicester manager Steve Cooper were both leading contenders, with the trio having made the final shortlist after initial talks with Boro chiefs.
But Edwards then emerged as the frontrunner after further talks.
Boro’s players are due to report back for the start of pre-season the week after next.
Boro already have recruitment plans in place for the summer, with club bosses aiming to be in promotion contention next season after last term’s disappointing 10th-place finish which ultimately cost Carrick his job.
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