Rob Edwards given permission to speak to Wolves after being stood down for Middlesbrough match | OneFootball

Rob Edwards has been given permission to speak to Wolves after being stood down from the Middlesbrough dugout for Saturday’s Championship clash with Birmingham.

Edwards did not lead Middlesbrough training on Friday and saw his pre-match press conference cancelled, with the decision made not to put him in front of the media.

The Independent reported Wolves made a former approach to Boro on Tuesday over the potential appointment of Edwards as their new head coach following the sacking of Vitor Pereira.

This approach was rejected by the Teesside club but it now looks increasingly likely that Edwards, who only took charge of Middlesbrough in June, will make a move to Molineux, with Boro opting to remove him from matchday duties for the Riverside fixture before allowing him to speak to the Premier League strugglers.

“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,” Middlesbrough confirmed.

“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.”

The 42-year-old, who made more than 100 appearances in a playing spell at Molineux between 2004 and 2008, briefly served as interim manager in 2016 before going on to manage Forest Green Rovers and Watford.

His most successful spell came in charge of Luton between 2022 and January 2025, leading the club to the Premier League. Relegation from the top-flight was followed by being dismissed with the club 20th in the Championship at the beginning of this year.

It is thought that Edwards has been on Wolves’ shortlist since Pereira was dismissed, though the club would likely have to pay significant compensation to Middlesbrough in order to secure his appointment.

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Rob Edwards looks increasingly likely to take over at Wolves (Getty Images)

Wolves initially looked likely to reappoint former boss Gary O’Neil before he withdrew out of the race to take over, with Edwards since emerging as a top target.

Wolves have struggled this season after losing top talents including Matheus Cunha during the summer transfer window, and they currently sit rock bottom of the league with just two points from 10 matches.

The decision to sack Pereira came just a few weeks after he signed a new three-year contract, after a winless start to the Premier League was followed by a Carabao Cup exit at the hands of Chelsea late last month.

The club are currently eight points adrift of safety, with a difficult run of fixtures including trips to Chelsea, Aston Villa and league leaders Arsenal over the next few weeks.