'Disappointed' Middlesbrough release statement after standing down Rob Edwards amid Wolves chaos

Middlesbrough have confirmed that Rob Edwards has been taken off their match with Birmingham City this afternoon, as talkSPORT first revealed.

Boro have announced in a statement that their manager has been given permission to speak to Wolves, having initially rejected an approach from the Premier League side.

A club statement read: "Middlesbrough Football Club have, subject to the completion of an agreement with Wolverhampton Wanderers FC, given head coach Rob Edwards permission to speak to Wolves.

"We initially rejected an approach from Wolves on the basis that Rob signed a three-year contract with MFC less than six months ago.

"Following discussions with Rob we were disappointed to learn that he wanted to speak with Wolves regarding their head coach vacancy.

"We have now agreed terms with Wolves, subject to completion of the relevant paperwork.

"First team coaches Adi Viveash and Harry Watling, and Academy manager Craig Liddle, will take charge of team affairs for Saturday’s game against Birmingham City at the Riverside."

Edwards did not oversee Middlesbrough's first-team training on Friday, while his pre-match press conference was also cancelled.

talkSPORT broke the news on Saturday morning that he was ready and willing to take charge against Birmingham at 3pm, but Boro have removed him, with fresh reports claiming it came amid 'concerns about his safety on the touchline'.

Middlesbrough have also accused Wolves of breaking Premier League rules in their attempt to appoint the 42-year-old.

“Unfortunately, Wolves have behaved at a standard less than we expect and we believe their conduct is in breach of Premier League regulations”, a club source told the Telegraph.

Edwards is now closing in on a move to join Wolves - just four months after being appointed at the Riverside Stadium.

Boro permit Edwards to speak to Wolves

The former Wanderers defender and ex-under-23 coach is believed to have a release clause in his Middlesbrough contract.

Gary O'Neil was close to agreeing personal terms before pulling out of a shock return to Molineux following a backlash from fans.

Wolves have also discussed former Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag, but Edwards remains their top man.

Boro are currently third in the Championship, five points adrift of league leaders Coventry, after a strong start to the season.

Meanwhile, Wolves are rock bottom of the Premier League and remain the only winless side in the top four divisions of English football this season.

Reacting to the news, ex-Ireland defender Tony Cascarino said: "To jump ship and go to Wolverhampton Wanderers after what?

"We're through 10 games now in the Premier League. I think I'd want to see it through at Boro.

"I always felt like if I signed a contract, I wasn't going knocking on doors to try and get away.

"I never asked for a transfer in my career. And I think if you're a manager, how can you just jump ship? You know, just leave.

"When you're asking players to be loyal and stay at a football club and we're on a journey, and then suddenly this journey changes because you've been offered a job..."

"I think you owe it to your players to show leadership," Cascarino continued.

"That's how I feel because I've been there when managers have gone from football clubs, but they've also persuaded players it was right for them to stay, then they've left when it suited them.

"If you sign a contract at a football club and you're going well, I think you've just got to stay in there."

Wolves next manager

Wolves relieved Vitor Pereira of his duties last Sunday, having overseen a 3-0 defeat at Fulham the day before.

Youth bosses James Collins and Richard Walker will take charge of the senior side against Chelsea, which is live on talkSPORT, five hours after managerless Boro host Birmingham.

Edwards was made Wolves' priority target to be Perieria's successor following a successful spell as a youth coach between 2014 and 2019.

The former Luton manager even stepped in as interim boss for two matches following the sacking of Walter Zenga in 2016.

Edwards guided the Hatters to promotion to the Premier League in 2023, but could not avoid the drop from the top-flight.

A poor start to the 2024/25 Championship season saw his tenure at Kenilworth Road end wth Luton sitting 20th en route to successive relegations into League One.

What has Edwards said about the Wolves job?

Edwards, who was appointed as Michael Carrick's replacement at Middlesbrough in June, previously denied links to his old club.

"You know my links to the club [Wolves]," he said. "But my full focus is on this job here, which is a brilliant job, and trying to turn things around.

"It's all speculation anyway. I never get drawn on stuff that's all hypothetical and I don't want to get drawn on that.

"I love being Middlesbrough manager and that's what I want to think about.

"All I can say is I've not given it a single thought because my focus is just on this. It's all the stuff that my daughter was telling me about."

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