Middlesbrough could snatch Bristol City’s priority next manager target as interest in ex-Luton boss grows.
As Middlesbrough begins their hunt for a new manager, they may compete with Bristol City for the same targets. Within minutes of Middlesbrough manager Michael Carrick’s dismissal, rumours about his probable successor had already brought them into confrontation with Bristol City, who are looking for a new head coach.
Bristol City’s search for a new manager began on Tuesday with the announcement that Liam Manning, who led the club to the Championship play-offs in his first full season in charge, had been appointed as Norwich City manager. Former Luton Town manager Rob Edwards had been mentioned in the news as a potential candidate for the Ashton Gate post, but it now appears that the ex-defender could also be of interest to Middlesbrough as they hunt for their own coach.
Rob Edwards linked to both Bristol City and Middlesbrough
Given Middlesbrough’s larger budget, they could be a strong draw for a coach like Edwards, just as Norwich was for Manning, who moved to a club with more spending power despite finishing in the bottom half of the Championship table, seven places lower than the Robins.
‘Disappointed’ Robins begin new manager hunt
Following Manning’s departure from Ashton Gate, club chairman Jon Lansdown said in an official statement that he was “disappointed” to lose a head coach who had led the Robins to their best league position since 2008, but thanked the 39-year-old former manager for a season in which Bristol City exceeded expectations. Manning may prove to be a difficult act to follow after leading the team to a sixth-place finish and into the play-offs, where they were defeated in the semi-finals by Sheffield United. The club has stated that they are “assessing all options” as they try to make a new appointment.
Edwards has been installed as the bookmakers’ early favourite, but no interviews have yet taken place, and other names linked with the job in the immediate aftermath of Manning’s departure include ex-Hull City coach Ruben Selles and Gary O’Neil, who has been out of work since losing his Wolves job in the winter. Bristol City are anticipated to consider several choices before making a final selection, but with Middlesbrough also looking for a new manager at the same time, they may face heavy competition for some of the best possible prospects.
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