Wolves have confirmed the appointment of Rob Edwards as their new head coach on a three-and-a-half year deal.placeholder image
Wolves have confirmed the appointment of Rob Edwards as their new head coach on a three-and-a-half year deal. | Steven Paston/PA Wire
Middlesbrough FC news.
With Rob Edwards now confirmed as the new Wolves boss, the hunt for a new Middlesbrough manager intensifies.
One name that has cropped up recently is Steven Gerrard, who has been out of work since leaving Al-Ettifaq in January this year.
Gerrard hasn’t had the best of times in the dugout over the last four years, picking up win percentages of just 39% and 32.5% at Al-Ettifaq and Aston Villa, respectively. However, he does have some credit in the bank after leading Rangers to a Scottish Premiership title in 2020/21 - the only non-Celtic title win north of the border in the last 14 years. Former Gers striker Ally McCoist has backed Gerrard as a potentially shrewd ‘gamble’ for Boro, who are looking to maintain their Premier League promotion push despite the managerial upheaval.
“I think they might (appoint Gerrard),” McCoist told talkSPORT. “Because the one thing you're going to get, you're going to get a really hungry man that really knows… I'm not saying it's a last chance saloon, but it might be the last chance saloon.
“So he has to get it right. Anybody in management is a gamble, a complete gamble. But Steve Gibson, who is a very intelligent man, will weigh that up. He'd look at Steven and say, you know... Maybe, maybe."
On Wednesday, Wolves confirmed the appointment of Rob Edwards as their new head coach on a three-and-a-half year deal. The 42-year-old has left Championship club Middlesbrough and agreed a contract until 2029 with Wanderers after they sacked Vitor Pereira earlier this month.
It is reported Boro will receive around £3million in compensation after Edwards only joined them in June on a three-year contract.
Doubts cast over Middlesbrough’s Steven Gerrard approach
According to transfer insider and North East expert Graeme Bailey, Gibson is, indeed, a long-term admirer of Gerrard.
However, Bailey is unsure if Middlesbrough can convince the former Liverpool and England midfielder to make the move to the Riverside Stadium. “Gerrard is well liked by Boro, he has an impressive CV and would be a significant coup to land him,” Bailey told Rousing the Kop, adding: “But it is not certain if they could put together the package to persuade him to move to the North East.”
According to the same report, Alex Neil, Tony Mowbray, Paul Heckingbottom, Raphael Wicky, Gary O’Neil, Mark Robbins and Robbie Keane are also on Boro’s radar.
Adi Viveash to remain in charge as club thanks Boro fans
Adi Viveash took interim charge of Boro at the weekend, guiding them to a 2-1 win over Birmingham City.
Now, with Edwards and coach Harry Watling heading to Molineux, it’s been confirmed by the club that Viveash will remain in interim charge of first-team affairs. Boro’s statement also thanked supporters for the ‘unity’ they showed during the Birmingham clash at the weekend.
“On Saturday, the Riverside came together as one, players, staff, and supporters, and you could feel the sense of unity which is at the core of our club,” the statement read. “To everyone involved, we would like to say thank you.”
BBC commentator wowed by Riverside atmosphere vs Birmingham
It wasn’t just the club itself that picked up on the brilliant atmosphere generated by Middlesbrough fans on Saturday. BBC Sport’s Tees commentator Rob Law was also impressed by the supporters, who inspired the players as they seek to maintain what is a very promising promotion push.
“There were many question marks over the match with Birmingham City. Would the atmosphere be affected? How would players react? Who would be in the dugout? We got our answers tenfold,” wrote Law.
“The atmosphere? Electric! Every single supporter doing their best to lift those on the pitch. Many saying it was the best atmosphere of the season. “However you view it, it left no doubt in the players' minds that the town stood with them, even if their head coach did not.
“The players? Well, they fought for everything. Many of them putting their bodies on the line, epitomised by Matt Targett and captain Dael Fry. Both started the game, despite carrying knocks and needing injections before a ball was even kicked. “That leaves the man in the dugout, Adi Viveash. Someone not accustomed to the spotlight.
“He'd never led a team until Saturday – something he described as a proud moment for him and his family.
“I had the chance to interview him after the game, and it was one of the most impressive displays I've witnessed in 10 years on the sports desk here. “He dealt with it all while speaking of resilience and determination, leaving very little doubt over his views on recent events.
“Saturday epitomised everything that people love about this town and this club; honesty, unity and determination, no matter what is thrown at them. “Whoever takes over the reins is in for a treat.”
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