Middlesbrough could snatch Bristol City’s priority next manager target as interest in ex-Luton boss grows

Within minutes of the confirmation that Middlesbrough manager Michael Carrick had been relieved of his duties at the Riverside Stadium, speculation concerning his potential successor had already put them into potential conflict with Bristol City as the Robins begin their search for a new head coach.

Bristol City’s hunt for a new manager began on Tuesday with confirmation that Liam Manning, who led the club to the Championship play-offs in his first full season in charge, had been appointed as the Norwich City manager.

Speculation in the press had suggested that one potential target for the vacancy at Ashton Gate was former Luton Town manager Rob Edwards – but it now seems as though the ex-defender could also be of interest to Middlesbrough as they begin to look for a coach of their own.

Rob Edwards linked to both Bristol City and Middlesbrough

As reported yesterday, sources including The Yorkshire Post had hinted that the former Luton and Watford manager was “interested” in the Bristol City job should it become available – which it very swiftly did when Manning was announced as the successor to Johannes Hoff Thorup at Carrow Road.

Edwards led Luton to the Premier League two years ago before being fired midway through a disastrous 2024/25 campaign which saw the Hatters endure back-to-back relegations all the way down to League One.

If Edwards was indeed on the shortlist to take over at Ashton Gate, however, conflicting reports suggest that he may have his head turned by the sudden Middlesbrough vacancy.

Journalist Graeme Bailey has suggested that Edwards is “in contention” for the position after Carrick’s dismissal on Wednesday afternoon, alongside former Nottingham Forest and Leicester City coach Steve Cooper and Sweden manager Jon Dahl Tomasson, who has Championship experience with Blackburn Rovers.

Given Middlesbrough’s larger budget, they could prove to be a powerful draw for a coach like Edwards – just as Norwich did for Manning, who moved to a club with more spending power despite the fact that they finished the Championship season in the bottom half of the table, seven places below the Robins.

‘Disappointed’ Robins begin new manager hunt

After the news that Manning had left 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 offered his thanks to the 39-year-old former manager after a season in which Bristol City surpassed expectations.

Having led the club to a sixth-placed finish and into the play-offs, where they suffered a semi-final defeat to Sheffield United, Manning may prove to be a tough act to follow, with the club stating that they are “assessing all options” as they look to make a new appointment.

Edwards has been installed as the bookmakers’ early favourite, but no interviews have yet been conducted 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 the Wolves job in the winter.

Bristol City are expected to explore a number of options before making a final decision, but with Middlesbrough also entering the market for a new manager at the same time, they may face stiff competition for some of the best potential candidates.