Tees

Kim Hellberg has been chosen to succeed Rob Edwards and take over Middlesbrough's promotion charge.

The 37-year-old secured two consecutive top-flight second-place finishes with Swedish side Hammarby.

Taking charge of Boro will mark Hellberg's first venture in the English Football League.

Do you think the Swede is the right call to book Middlesbrough a place in next season's Premier League?

What are you expecting from your new boss?

Let us know your thoughts here.

This is the one we have been waiting for as the top two come face-to-face on Teesside.

Coventry's stirring 3-2 win over West Brom on Saturday, coupled with Middlesbrough being held to a 1-1 draw at Oxford means the Sky Blues hold a seven-point advantage over their opponents at the top of the Championship.

• Middlesbrough are winless in their past six league games against Coventry (D1 L5), losing each of the past four in a row.

• Coventry have won their past two away league games against Middlesbrough, more than they had in their previous 14 visits between 1982 and 2023 (W1 D6 L7).

• Middlesbrough have lost just one of their past 13 home league games (W9 D3) and are unbeaten in nine at the Riverside Stadium since a 1-0 loss against Leeds in April.

• Coventry have scored 21 goals in their eight away league games this season, just three fewer than they managed in the whole of last season on the road (24 in 23 games).

• Coventry's Haji Wright has been involved in four goals in his four league appearances against Middlesbrough (3 goals, 1 assist), with three of those coming at the Riverside Stadium.

Nick Mashiter
Football reporter

Image source, Rex Features

Middlesbrough are poised to confirm Kim Hellberg as their new manager.

The 37-year-old is due to join from Swedish side Hammarby and replace Rob Edwards following his move to Wolves.

Boro have been finalising Hellberg's work permit and he is not expected to take charge of Tuesday's Championship top-of-the-table visit of leaders Coventry, with caretaker Aidy Viveash again due to lead Boro.

Middlesbrough are second in the table, seven points behind the Sky Blues after Saturday's 1-1 draw at Oxford.

Hellberg took Hammarby to second-placed finishes in the Swedish top flight during his two seasons in charge.

Ex-Wolves first-team coach Ian Burchnall is in the running to replace Hellberg.

Burchnall, a former Forest Green and Notts County manager, has previously managed in Scandinavia having taken charge of Viking in Norway and Ostersunds in Sweden, when he succeeded Graham Potter in 2018.

Burchnall had been working with Jamaica under Steve McClaren for their last six World Cup qualifiers before McClaren stood down last week following the Reggae Boyz's failure to seal automatic qualification.

Middlesbrough interim boss Adi Viveash felt his team lacked quality at crucial moments of their draw at Oxford United.

Viveash told BBC Tees: "The reality is that certainly in attacking areas, we didn't have enough of the quality moments, we didn't have the final action, final pass, cross, finish.

"Some key moments went against us and in the Championship you need certain things to go your way, especially away from home.

"It was a great goal (by Morgan) - unfortunately we had two or three more (opportunities) where we were in the same position and just missed the cross, one got pulled behind TC (Tommy Conway).

"Nineteen shots, three on target, that number needs to be higher if you're going to win a Championship game."

Nick Mashiter
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

New Wolves boss Rob Edwards knows he let Middlesbrough down but insisted he had to move to Molineux.

The 42-year-old swapped promotion chasing Boro in the Championship for a return to relegation-threatened Wolves.

They are bottom of the Premier League with just two points from 11 games and have not won in the top flight for over six months.

Edwards left Boro five months after being appointed with the Riverside club second in the Championship.

But, having played 111 times for Wolves and coached the under-18s, under-23s and the first team, Edwards could not turn the move down.

He said: "This opportunity and this job is something I've always wanted and dreamed of. I'm well aware I was at a really good football club - I want to be really respectful to Middlesbrough and I know I would have let them down.

"I get it and I understand that. But this is something I've always wanted to do. I didn't want to live with regret. I've got to live my own life.

"I didn't know if this opportunity would come up again for me to be the head coach of this club. I didn't want to look back in 10, 15, 20 years' time [and see] that I turned down chance to manage Wolves in the Premier League.

"I've got to try to enjoy my life and take some risks. We're not around for long, are we? I didn't want to look back and think: 'Maybe I should have given that a go.'

"So yeah, that's why I've done it. I know it's going to be a big challenge but I'm just well up for it."

Edwards is preparing for his first game in charge at home to Crystal Palace on Saturday as Wolves look to win their first league game of the season.

He added: "There's no perfect job in football. I know the scale of the task. But I'm also really excited by the challenge and have got full belief in group."