Adi Viveash to remain in charge of Middlesbrough as recruitment begins

Edwards is set to be confirmed as Wolves’ new manager on a three-and-a-half year contract tomorrow after a dramatic 48 hours that have seen him seal his exit from the Riverside.

Boro will receive a compensation fee of around £4m for the 42-year-old, who spelled out his desire to leave for Wolves in a dramatic meeting at Rockliffe Park on Friday.

That led to him being stood down for Saturday’s home game with Birmingham City, which Boro won 2-1 with Viveash and Harry Watling in charge.

While Watling is expected to accompany Edwards to Wolves, Viveash will remain on Teesside and act as Boro’s interim boss while the recruitment process plays out.

The 56-year-old, who joined Boro at the same time as Edwards was appointed as head coach in the summer, has earned huge respect within the corridors of power at the Riverside for the way in which he has conducted himself in the last few days.

He has the respect of Boro’s first-team squad, and is likely to remain as part of the club’s new-look backroom set-up no matter who is eventually appointed as Edwards’ full-time successor.

The Boro hierarchy are understood to be deeply hurt by Edwards’ decision to walk out on the club after just over four months in charge, and with his side sitting in second place in the Championship table.

Even on Thursday, when the speculation linking the former Luton Town boss with a move to Molineux was gathering pace, there was confidence he would reject any offer and remain with Boro. Instead, he has decided to leave for a club rooted to the foot of the Premier League table, eight points from safety after failing to win any of their opening 11 league games.

READ MORE:

Rob Edwards only has himself to blame for Middlesbrough reaction to imminent Wolves move

While Edwards is set for a significant pay rise at his new Premier League employers, there is every chance he will find himself back in the Championship if he survives the remainder of the season.

Boro’s search for his successor is at an extremely formative stage. While the club is constantly monitoring potential managerial options as part of its long-term planning, last week’s developments came out of the blue so the first job facing chairman Steve Gibson, chief executive Neil Bausor and head of football Kieran Scott, who will run the recruitment process collectively, is to draw up a shortlist of potential candidates.

Carlos Corberan, Gary O’Neil and Steven Gerrard have all been touted as options, but Boro are yet to speak to anyone about the position. Tony Mowbray has been mentioned as a potential stopgap appointment, but the club is not expected to make that move.

In the short term, there is confidence that Viveash can lead the club, with the international break meaning Boro do not have a game for two weeks. The club return to action on Saturday, November 22 when they head to the Kassam Stadium to face Oxford United.

Speaking after Saturday’s game, Viveash spelled out his admiration for Boro as a club, and for the supporters who backed him and his players so passionately on Saturday.

“It’s a fantastic club," said Viveash. “I said that when I came. I’ve been in the other dug-out and the noise that night in the play-off semi-final and the special nature of the game. They always had fantastic players here as a kid growing up. There’s an amazing owner. I feel really privileged that I work at a club that he owns.

“I’ve enjoyed every minute immensely, getting to know the staff, the players. I’m a coach who develops players so I like to build relationships with players. My role here is what it is and I’ve tried to be as good as I can be in that role.

“It’s a little bit different. It’s certainly the furthest up north I’ve ever worked and you have to deal with all those other things off the pitch. But it's a great football club, a great football club, and you can feel it.

“You have some great characters around and some really lovely people at the club. This club is full of amazing, amazing staff. That's what I would say.”