What Middlesbrough sacking Chris Wilder will mean for Josh Coburn’s Bristol Rovers loan spell

Chris Wilder’s Middlesbrough departure is unlikely to majorly affect Josh Coburn’s Bristol Rovers loan spell, at least in the short-term.

The Teeside club ended Wilder’s 11-month reign on Monday morning after Boro suffered a 1-0 defeat to bottom-placed Coventry City.

Boro - who were considered as one of the contenders for promotion at the start of the season, have fallen below expectations.

They have picked up 10 points from a possible 33 and are inside the relegation zone on the virtue of goal difference.

Middlesbrough are now on the search for a new manager and already, joining both Cardiff and Rotherham United in the second tier, who are also without a boss.

The sacking of Wilder however, poses a question as to what Coburn’s future may be at the Memorial Stadium, given how it was only recently that he spoke of his long-term plans for him.

Wilder spoke positively about the six foot four forward, stating to TeesideLive that it was an ‘important season for him’. He also claimed working under Joey Barton would be ‘decent coaching’. Wilder’s departure means that Barton and Rovers will now have a new manager to converse with over how they manage one of their loan players.

Coburn has yet to make an appearance for the Gas since joining on a season-long loan on Deadline Day. The 19-year-old has been nursing a knee injury which he has been rehabilitating at his parent club. He was due to play for their Under-21’s on Friday evening, but a technicality in the loan deal meant that he had to miss out.

Coburn  however has headed down to the West Country on the weekend and will link up with Barton’s men on Monday, which was revealed by the boss in his post-match press conference at Exeter.

“We’ll have Josh Coburn joining us on Monday, so it will be like getting a new signing,” Barton said to Bristol Live on Saturday.

He could make his debut as soon as Tuesday (October 4, 7:00 pm) with Rovers in EFL Trophy action against Crystal Palace’s Under-21’s at the Memorial Stadium.

As Coburn played for Middlesbrough against West Brom - where he sustained his injury - any competitive appearance for Rovers before January would limit him to representing another club.

Under the FIFA Transfer Regulations, a football player is only allowed to be registered with three clubs in one season and is only eligible to play ‘official’ matches for two clubs.

It means that should they have a recall option, he would only be able to represent the Championship club.

It is unclear whether there is a recall option on Coburn’s deal and a manager may want to have a closer look at him, but for now he is set to play competitive football for Rovers in the short-term