Middlesbrough manager Rob Edwards has been stood down from the club’s match against Birmingham amid interest from Premier League side Wolves.
Boro rejected an initial approach from Wolves to speak to Edwards on Thursday, and the manager held talks with the Championship club’s hierarchy on Friday. He did not hold his usual pre-match press conference or oversee the team’s final training session, and it has been confirmed he will not take charge of the home game against Birmingham.
Edwards signed a three-year contract in June to succeed Michael Carrick and has guided Middlesbrough to third place in the Championship heading into the weekend.
Wolves dismissed Vítor Pereira on Sunday after a run of 10 games without a win that has left them four points from safety at the bottom of the Premier League. BBC Sport reported Edwards among the leading candidates to replace Pereira, alongside former Wolves manager Gary O’Neil. Wolves held talks with O’Neil, who subsequently withdrew from consideration on Monday, leaving Edwards as the preferred option.
Edwards is well known to Wolves supporters: he made more than 100 appearances for the club between 2004 and 2008, later worked as a coach there and briefly served as interim manager in 2016 following the sacking of Walter Zenga.
The situation remains fluid and further developments are expected as both clubs consider their next steps.