The wait for Rob Edwards isn’t expected to have this conclusion
One of the most exciting aspects of waiting for the announcement of the new Middlesbrough manager is reading fan opinions on social media.
I’m particularly interested in the comments left in response to my articles. One letter that piqued my interest came from “orangemurphy,” who claimed that the media had been continually writing about what Rob Edwards would and would not do before Boro ever announced his hiring.
He thought it would be amusing if the media got it wrong and Boro appointed someone else. I agree with him. After all, I had seen it all before!
When Boro fired Colin Todd, it was a lengthy time before a new manager was announced. It gave the media plenty of time to speculate, and everyone, except the Gazette, predicted that Port Vale manager John Rudge would be Boro’s next boss.
Rudge had been extremely successful at Vale and could have done well here, and the media had a great day extolling the reforms he would implement at Ayresome Park. However, I received a nod and a wink from within the club to avoid jumping the gun. As a result, the Gazette almost completely ignored the Rudge hypothesis.
Then, just before the new Boro manager was announced at a 10 a.m. press conference at Ayresome Park, I received official word that Charlton Athletic manager Lennie Lawrence would take over the reins. As a result, the Gazette planned to reveal the news in the day’s early first edition.
“Orangemurphy” is correct. It was amusing to witness the stunned reactions on the faces of the assembled reporters when Lennie entered the room. So much so that the reporter next to me poked me, asking, “Who is he?” Football may be a strange game to report on at times!
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