Could Gibson go for a first-time manager again?

WITH Rob Edwards off to Wolves, attention at Middlesbrough turns to what comes next.

- By CRAIG JOHNS

With Boro second in the Championship despite not yet clicking as an attacking force, the foundations are laid solidly for someone to take the reins and potentially make themselves a hero on Teesside. But who might that man be?

The race to become next Boro boss feels wide open and hard to predict. At this stage, names continue to be bandied about as agents get busy, but Boro chiefs are yet to identify their primary targets. Instead, the first stage of their process is assessing each and every legitimate candidate before whittling them down to a healthy shortlist to interview.

The fact that Edwards’ Wolves exit has been so sudden and unexpected means Boro didn’t have a ready-made list to turn to.

While of course they follow the wider game closely and will be aware of many potential options available to them right now, there wasn’t any serious consideration to who the next Boro boss might be this time last week, because Edwards was doing well and just four months into a three-year contract.