Middlesbrough head coach Rob Edwards has been stood down from his duties for Saturday's Championship game against Birmingham City, amid strong interest from Wolverhampton Wanderers to appoint him as their new manager. Edwards, who signed a three-year contract to succeed Michael Carrick as Middlesbrough manager in June, was initially subject to a rejected approach from Wolves on Thursday. However, following discussions, Edwards was granted permission to speak to the Premier League club, leading to his absence from the regular pre-game news conference and the team's final training session before the Championship game with Birmingham.

Middlesbrough Football Club confirmed their decision in a statement, noting they had initially rejected Wolves' approach because Edwards had only recently signed a long-term deal at the Riverside. The statement explained that discussions with Edwards revealed his desire to speak with Wolves regarding their head coach vacancy, a move that the club expressed disappointment over. Terms have now been agreed with Wolves, subject to the completion of relevant paperwork. The lure of returning to Wolves, where Edwards made 111 appearances as a player and also served as a coach, combined with his Premier League management experience with Luton two seasons ago, appears to have been a significant factor in his decision.

Wolves are actively seeking a new manager after sacking Vitor Pereira last weekend due to a challenging start to their league campaign. The club has endured a 10-game winless streak, leaving them eight points shy of safety in the Premier League table. They are scheduled to play Chelsea on Saturday night. Meanwhile, Middlesbrough, under Edwards' leadership, have been performing strongly in the Championship, currently sitting third or fourth in the table going into this weekend's fixtures.

In Edwards' absence, first-team coaches Adi Viveash and Harry Watling, alongside academy manager Craig Liddle, will collectively take charge of team affairs for the home match against Birmingham City at the Riverside Stadium. This temporary arrangement will cover the immediate period as the managerial situation is finalized between Edwards and Wolverhampton Wanderers, marking a significant development in the football world.