Middlesbrough have taken the significant step of removing manager Rob Edwards from his matchday duties for Saturday's Championship fixture against Birmingham amid intensifying interest from Premier League club Wolves.
Managerial Turmoil at Riverside
Rob Edwards did not lead training on Friday and saw his scheduled pre-match press conference cancelled as Middlesbrough decided against putting him in front of the media. The 42-year-old manager, who only took charge at Riverside in June, now appears increasingly likely to make a dramatic move to Molineux.
Wolves made their initial approach to Middlesbrough on Tuesday regarding Edwards potentially replacing the sacked Vitor Pereira. Although Boro rejected this approach initially, the situation has escalated rapidly, forcing the Championship club to take decisive action by standing Edwards down for their weekend match.
Edwards' Connection to Wolves
The potential appointment carries significant emotional weight for Edwards, who enjoyed a playing spell at Molineux between 2004 and 2008, making over 100 appearances for the club. He also briefly served as Wolves' interim manager in 2016 before establishing his managerial career elsewhere.
Edwards' most notable success came during his tenure at Luton Town between 2022 and January 2025, where he famously guided the club to the Premier League. However, his dismissal came after relegation from the top flight and a subsequent poor start to this Championship season that left Luton 20th in the table.
Wolves' Desperate Situation
Wolves find themselves in a precarious position, currently sitting rock bottom of the Premier League with just two points from 10 matches. The club's struggles intensified after losing key talents including Matheus Cunha during the summer transfer window.
The decision to sack Pereira came as a particular surprise given he had signed a new three-year contract just weeks earlier. A winless start to the Premier League season, combined with a Carabao Cup exit against Chelsea late last month, sealed his fate.
Wolves are currently eight points adrift of safety and face a daunting run of fixtures including difficult away trips to Chelsea, Aston Villa and league leaders Arsenal over the coming weeks.
It's understood Edwards has been on Wolves' shortlist since Pereira's dismissal, though the Premier League club would likely need to pay significant compensation to Middlesbrough to secure his appointment. Wolves had initially appeared set to reappoint former boss Gary O'Neil before he withdrew from consideration, making Edwards their primary target.
