Middlesbrough

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Rob Edwards has been named Middlesbrough's new head coach but will he be able to repeat the promotion success he found with former club Luton Town? Some of you are unconvinced.

Here's what you had to say about the appointment:

Guy: He's joining a club and fanbase that is crying out for a change - tactics, culture and personnel. I'll be happy to see us go to three at the back and hopefully never see a goalkeeper pass it three yards sideways or see a centre-half thinking he's Messi and dribbling across his own box again. Also the appointment of a clued-in, experienced Championship number two in Adrian Viveash is critical too.

Neil: This was an opportunity to really inject some enthusiasm into the fanbase but I can't help feel a tad underwhelmed. Feels very much like Carrick version two. Another coach who plays out from the back and seemingly has no plan B when things go wrong. Can see this being another Gary Monk-like situation.

David: A solid appointment but interested to see who the backroom staff will be. We need strength in depth in the coaching team. Some bite in the middle of the park wouldn't go amiss too. We were too polite under Carrick and lacked a real leader on the pitch. Hopefully there'll be an element of that brought in with Edwards. Happy to get behind him if we show improvement!

Tony: Can't see this being a great success but hopefully I will be proven wrong. Middlesbrough are a team in decline and getting a high profile manager would be impossible until we see an improvement in results. Expecting a difficult season.

Asme: Remains to be seen but I think the recruitment model is all wrong at the Boro, hence why he's the 'head coach', not manager. He may have a wishlist of players but 'others' have final say. May have something to do with why other managers with proven track records failed before.

Martin: Was never sure about Edwards since his name first got mentioned. Getting Luton promoted obviously makes him stand out but that was where it ended. Luton came down again and struggled thereafter. Luton were an exception to the rule when they went up and momentum was a big driver for them that season. Boro don't have that. The team is low on confidence. I would have preferred Steve Cooper but we have what we have and, as fans, we need to support Rob and the team or else we have no hope.

Christopher: I really liked Rob Edwards' first interview as Boro boss and I'm hoping he gets us playing exciting football and stop conceding sloppy goals. Our home form over the last three seasons has been awful to watch so it needs sorting out quickly. New keeper, defence needs improving and we need a top-class striker to play along side Tommy Conway. Best of luck to Rob Edwards and all the staff and players. UTB!

Your club will soon discover their schedule for the upcoming EFL season. As soon as Thursday, in fact.

Want to know who your side will face on opening day? The EFL fixtures will be announced at 12:00 BST - but that's not all.

The day will be rounded off by the first round of Carabao Cup being drawn at 16:30 BST.

So check back on 26 June to see who your team faces first, last and everything in between.

"It's a chance for a fresh start, isn't it?

"A clean slate for the club and for Rob Edwards, an opportunity to get his career back on track after the way it ended with Luton."

It's been knocking around the rumour mill for a while but now it is confirmed - Rob Edwards is Middlesbrough's new head coach.

Mark Drury and Neil Maddison join BBC Radio Tees' Rob Law as they discuss what Edwards can bring to Boro as well as hear from the fans on their thoughts towards the new man in charge.

While Edwards' last two seasons with Luton Town may be a concern for some, others believe his experience as a promotion-winning manager will be an asset for a team seeking a return to the Premier League.

"With Rob, he's been there, he's done it," Maddison said.

"He's had his ups and downs, don't get me wrong, but I think he would have learnt a lot from it.

"I'm certain that he'll want to put things right, he'll want to get back to winning ways and get this club back where things should be."

The show includes Edwards' first interview as Boro head coach.

You can listen to the full reaction and more on BBC Sounds.

Mark Drury
BBC Radio Tees Middlesbrough commentator

Image source, Rex Features

Middlesbrough's decision to appoint Rob Edwards as Michael Carrick's successor marks a change of direction in the Riverside dugout.

Carrick was a managerial rookie (three games as Manchester United's caretaker notwithstanding), while 42-year-old Edwards already knows what it takes to win promotion, once to League One with Forest Green Rovers and subsequently to the Premier League with Luton Town.

His success in reaching the top flight with the Hatters will undoubtedly have been an attraction for Boro, who are still searching for the right formula to return to English football's top table eight years after their relegation to the Championship in 2017.

Edwards is Boro's seventh permanent manager or head coach in that time, and the list of names in those eight years gives an insight into the varied approaches chairman Steve Gibson has employed as he tries to find the solution to the club's promotion woes.

We have seen rookie bosses in Carrick and Jonathan Woodgate (who was Carrick's assistant throughout his two and a half years in charge), veterans – Tony Pulis and Championship specialist Neil Warnock – as well as the men of their particular moments, Garry Monk and Chris Wilder.

What the appointment of Edwards does is fully align Boro's first-team management with the strategic vision of Kieran Scott, the club's head of football.

The pair have worked together in the past. Edwards was under-23s coach at Wolverhampton Wanderers, while Scott was part of the scouting team.

When Edwards began his senior managerial career, Scott went on to become head of recruitment at Norwich City before taking over Boro's football operation.

The pair have kept in touch throughout the intervening years and now have the chance to rekindle their professional partnership at the Riverside.

Image source, Rex Features

Edwards is the fourth Boro manager who will work with Scott. Warnock, Wilder and Carrick were the others, and it is fair to say the working model was particularly tested during the Warnock and Wilder years.

Under Carrick, Boro had some real success in the transfer market – Morgan Rogers, Emmanuel Latte Lath and Rav van den Berg to name a few – but a system that had worked well sprang a major leak in January.

The head coach pushed for signings who proved to be notable failures and Boro's season crumbled after the turn of the year.

That situation is unlikely to be repeated with Edwards in charge. Recruitment, playing style and an ability to work within Boro's structure will all have played a big role in the interview process.

Many Boro fans were excited by the potential arrival of Sheffield Wednesday's Danny Rohl, while the fact Steve Cooper was interviewed shows the job remains one of the most desirable outside the top flight.

What Edwards brings though, is Championship nous and an ability to punch above his weight.

Competing with 'parachute' clubs

The Luton squad he led to promotion two years ago was reputed to have a wage bill that would have placed them 20th in the Championship.

Boro are much more generous payers, but no Championship club without the benefit of parachute payments can afford to turn their nose up at a manager with the ability to improve players and find a way of competing with teams dropping down from the Premier League.

Concerns have been raised by some Boro fans about the way Luton unravelled on Edwards' watch last season, and there is no doubt that was something that would have been discussed by Boro's hierarchy.

However, the fact Luton won promotion under him and then made a good fist of trying to stay up should not be forgotten. For the record, the Hatters finished 18th in their Premier League season, ahead of Burnley, whose manager Vincent Kompany subsequently left them for German giants Bayern Munich.

Edwards may not be the big-name arrival Michael Carrick was, but Boro hope he proves to be the right one.

Middlesbrough have announced former Luton Town boss Rob Edwards as their new head coach.

Edwards earned promotion to the Premier League with the Hatters via the Championship play-off final in 2023, but he ended up leaving the club in January as they struggled in their return to the second tier last season.

Can Edwards repeat his promotion heroics with Boro?

Or is this an appointment you cannot see working out?

Let us know your thoughts here.

Middlesbrough are interested in signing Aston Villa defender Kaine Kesler-Hayden, 22, but will face competition from fellow Championship sides Southampton and Coventry City. (Birmingham World, external)

Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Tuesday's gossip column here.

Middlesbrough have shown interest in signing Chelsea defender Alfie Gilchrist, 21, who spent last season on loan at Championship rivals Sheffield United. (Yorkshire Post), external

Read Friday's full gossip column for more EFL transfer rumours

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Former Luton Town boss Rob Edwards is tipped to fill the vacant managerial role at Middlesbrough - but what can the 42-year-old bring to the role?

Edwards led the Hatters to promotion but subsequently couldn't keep them in the Premier League and struggled again on their return to the Championship.

As a consequence, he left Luton in January, but BBC Radio 3CR's Geoff Doyle told BBC Radio Tees that his time away will have done the former Aston Villa defender much good upon his potential return to the second tier.

"It looked to me that Rob needed a break from football. It felt like he needed months off just to sort himself out," Doyle said.

"I think this time off would have really helped him, recharged the batteries.

"Coach-wise, he needs time. He needs to work on his system and how he wants to play at Boro.

"Tactically and as a coach, he's decent. I'm just hoping that the break would have given him a new lease of life and that he's back to his normal best."

Listen to the full discussion and more on BBC Sounds.

Image source, Getty Images

Middlesbrough are in advanced talks with Rob Edwards, 42, to replace Michael Carrick as head coach. Edwards is believed to have been one of three main names on Boro's shortlist, including Steve Cooper and Danny Rohl. (Sky Sports), external

Boro and Birmingham City have emerged as two of as many as 10 Championship clubs battling to sign Wycombe Wanderers striker Richard Kone, 21, after the Ivorian netted 18 goals in League One last season. (EFL Analysis), external

Want more transfer news and rumours from the EFL? Take a look at Wednesday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Former Luton manager Rob Edwards is the lead candidate to take over at Championship side Middlesbrough. (Sky Sports, external)

Want more transfer news? Take a look at Friday's gossip column here.

Ben Ashton
BBC Sport England

Image source, Getty Images

Watford are getting relegated, Plymouth are staying up, Millwall are in the play-offs and Portsmouth are also battling for a top-six spot.

Does something sound a bit off? Well, that's what would have happened if the Championship season started on 1 January.

Here's a look at the 2025 calendar year table, showing who the form sides were in the second half of the season and who went into freefall.

Perhaps the most notable difference between the actual final top six and the 2025 version is that Millwall would be in the play-offs and Premier League-bound Sunderland would not.

Burnley and Leeds still comfortably occupy the automatic promotion spots, albeit the Clarets would be unbeaten at the top of the pile with the Whites in second.

Coventry improved significantly after Frank Lampard replaced Mark Robins and are third over the course of the year.

The Sky Blues would instead be pitted against Bristol City in the play-off semi-final as opposed to Sunderland. Who knows what difference that would have made to their promotion bid...

Image source, Rex Features

Portsmouth - who spent much of the season battling relegation and only secured their Championship safety with two games to spare - are seventh and just one point outside a play-off spot.

Pompey sit above Sunderland, who lost their final five games of the season and are down in eighth.

The data perhaps shows just how long Regis Le Bris' side effectively had a play-off spot sewn up before their victory at Wembley against Sheffield United to claim promotion.

Relegation battlers Oxford find themselves seven places higher than where they actually finished in the 2024-25 campaign (17th), reflecting the good work done by Gary Rowett after he took over as boss from Des Buckingham.

Image source, Rex Features

Plymouth would have survived comfortably had the season begun in January 2025, showing a significant uptick after Miron Muslic replaced Wayne Rooney at the helm.

Middlesbrough tailed off significantly in the second half of the season, underpinning why they missed out on the play-offs. It was a drop off that ultimately cost Michael Carrick his job as head coach.

Norwich City conceded more goals (32) than any other side in 2025, which counteracted the hard work they'd done at the other end, having been the fourth top scorers (31) since the turn of the year.

Image source, Rex Features

Watford had a disappointing 2025, winning just five of their 23 games and losing 13 to finish bottom of the calendar year table.

The Hornets had the joint-worst goal difference along with Cardiff (-10) and head coach Tom Cleverley was sacked following the end of the season.

Preston and Cardiff won the fewest games of any side in 2025 (4), which cost the Bluebirds their Championship status and almost led to the Lilywhites dropping into League One as they avoided relegation by one point.

Paul Heckingbottom's side would be down if only games this year were counted.

Luton and Derby scored the fewest goals in 2025 (19) and attacking output was an issue that plagued both sides throughout the entire campaign.

It had major consequences for the Hatters with back-to-back relegations, while the Rams survived by a point - and only on goal difference in the yearly table.

Data collated from Transfermarkt

Image source, Getty Images

A number of EFL players have been selected in England's Under-21 squad for the European Championships in Slovakia this month.

Birmingham City's Jay Stansfield, who scored 19 goals in 37 League One games to help the Blues win the title and promotion to the second tier, is included.

Stansfield played three times during qualifying but this will be his first appearance at a tournament.

Middlesbrough midfielder Hayden Hackney, who netted five league goals and made three assists, is also named in Lee Carsley's 23-man squad, along with Samuel Iling-Junior, who spent time on loan at Boro and Bologna from Aston Villa during the 2024-25 season.

Two players are included from relegated Premier League clubs - Ipswich Town winger Omari Hutchinson and Southampton defender Ronnie Edwards - with the latter spending the second half of the campaign on loan at QPR.

Young Stoke City goalkeeper Tommy Simkin, who made 40 appearances on loan at Walsall in League Two and kept 14 clean sheets, has been picked.

Fellow goalkeepers Teddy Sharman-Lowe, who helped Doncaster Rovers win promotion to League One while on loan from Chelsea, and James Beadle, who spent the season at Sheffield Wednesday on loan from Brighton, will also be on the plane.

The U21 Euros will take place across eight host cities in Slovakia from 11-28 June with the Three Lions looking to retain the title they won in 2023.

England are in a group with Czech Republic, Slovenia and Germany and the top two will progress to the quarter-final.

You can see the full England U21 squad for the Euros here.

Michael Carrick's sacking by Middlesbrough has split opinions.

The 43-year-old was heavily criticised for tactical inflexibility and failing to guide Boro into a play-off place in a low-scoring season, but also drew sympathy for losing key players such as Emmanuel Latte Lath and Ben Doak.

While arguments could be made either way, journalist Craig Johns says the lack of unity demonstrates why he feels the decision to sack Carrick was the right one.

"I can understand why there is division in the fan base and I think that in itself suggests it probably is the right decision," Gazette reporter Johns told BBC Radio Tees.

"What Boro need right now is everyone united, everyone together, everyone on the same front. Ultimately going into the new season with a bit of hope.

"If Michael Carrick was still in charge, you very much get the impression that while half of the fan base would have been happy with that, half wouldn't."

As for the timing of Carrick's departure, Johns does not believe it will affect Boro's work in the transfer window.

"We know Boro did have a plan going into the summer, they've already identified five positions they feel need to be strengthened and the targets they would be interested in," he added.

"I can't imagine that will change much with a different manager."

Listen to the full discussion and more on BBC Sounds.

Middlesbrough's failure to reach the Championship play-offs is what ultimately cost Michael Carrick his job.

That is the view of Boro's BBC Radio Tees commentator Mark Drury and former midfielder Neil Maddison.

"Since they got to the play-offs, it's a story of regression," Drury told BBC Radio Tees.

"Basically, that's it. Boro have been going backwards. This season in isolation was a massive failure.

"To not reach the play-offs this season with the squad that had been assembled last August, with the make-up of the Championship as it was - to not get there was a failure and it was a big one."

Maddison agreed and said the club have "gone backwards" since they lost 1-0 on aggregate to Coventry in the play-off semi-final in May 2023.

"There were so many factors leading up to why it hasn't been a successful season," Maddison said.

"There wasn't enough. For me this season, it's one of those where I haven't really enjoyed watching us in terms of the football, the results.

"Go back to his [Carrick's] first season, I've never seen anything like it. It's the best football I've seen at the Riverside in my opinion. It was so exciting.

"But since then, we have gone backwards. And if you don't push on, this is the outcome."

Listen to Mark Drury and Neil Maddison's full discussion with host Rob Law about Carrick's sacking on BBC Sounds.

Ben Ashton
BBC Sport England

Image source, Getty Images

The 2024-25 Championship season might be over but there are many ways to analyse and reflect on the campaign that has gone before us.

Not every club can go up but if there are signs a team is moving in the right direction, it can still be considered good progress - or quite the opposite if things are on the slide.

Here is a look at how each of the 18 sides who were in the Championship for the past two seasons got on points wise compared to the 2023-24 campaign.

It perhaps comes as no surprise that Sunderland, who won promotion to the Premier League via the play-offs, recorded the most significant improvement after finishing 16th in 2023-24 and picked up 20 more points.

Despite a tumultuous season off the field, Blackburn were the second most improved side in the division, gaining 13 points on the previous campaign as they missed out on the play-offs by just two points.

Leeds racked up 90 points in 2023-24 but somehow still managed a 10-point improvement as they hit the 100 mark on their way to winning the title in their best-ever season in the second tier.

Millwall's seven-point improvement was enough to help them finish five places higher in eighth, but they fell short of the top six by two points.

Meanwhile, Bristol City were only six points better off but managed to climb five places and claim a play-off spot, recording their best Championship finishing position since 2007-08.

Coventry also only improved by five points but were able to jump from ninth to fifth, perhaps showing just how fine the margins can be in the Championship when it comes to securing a play-off berth.

At the bottom...

Image source, Getty Images

You might want to look away now, Hull City fans.

The Tigers went backwards more than any other side compared to the previous season under Liam Rosenior, dropping from seventh place and three points outside the play-offs to only escaping relegation on goal difference on the final day.

Cardiff went from mid-table in 2023-24 to rock bottom and will drop down to League One for the first time in 22 years. It is pretty clear to see why as the Bluebirds picked up 18 fewer points compared to the previous season.

Norwich tumbled to 13th place after finishing in the play-offs a year before - an underperformance which ultimately cost Johannes Hoff Thorup his job as head coach.

Preston were 10 points off the play-off places in 2023-24 but picked up 13 fewer points under Paul Heckingbottom in what was their worst season since they were relegated from the Championship in 2010-11.

The Lilywhites' downturn was largely due to a major dip in form in the latter stages of the campaign, picking up only one win from their final 15 games (D7 L7) to avoid the drop by just one point.

West Bromwich Albion endured a disappointing season - for a club which always harbours ambitions of plying its trade in the top flight - with an 11-point drop off.

Albion's final points tally of 64 was their worst in the Championship since 1999-2000.

Plymouth may have only been five points worse off than they were in 2023-24 but having survived on the final day that season, there were to be no such heroics this time around and their two-year stint in the second tier is over.

And the rest...

Image source, Getty Images

*All data based only on teams who were in the Championship in 2023-24 and 2024-25

Image source, Getty Images

We asked you what you thought about Middlesbrough's decision to sack boss Michael Carrick and it's fair to say there are some mixed feelings out there.

Here's what you had to say:

Tony: I think Carrick took us as far as he could. Started last season brilliantly, full out attack but it soon dropped off and became a boring possession team playing around our own box with no idea, then had no plan B and we were punished far too often. Would like to see Steve Cooper take over, he's a proven Championship winner.

Daniel: I think seeing Carrick is one of the better midfielders of his generation, he should have been given one more chance. His ball-playing ability and vision as a player clearly translated as a manager and results on the pitch improved vastly.

Martin: Yes it was time to go. The football was too laboured and he was too slow in adapting to the opposition's changes which cost us.

It really did end up a chore watching his tippy-tappy football and lots of fans like myself lost interest.

We lost 24 points from winning positions last season.

He's a great bloke but had taken the club as far as he could as he was too stubborn to change things.

Stuart: Sacking Carrick was not a good move. Like building a team you also build your managers/management rather than leave them to get on with things. Carrick has a lot more to offer and he will not be replaced by anyone better.

Craig: Shame it never worked out for Carrick but with no plan B we were sussed out by other teams. This club deserves to be in the top flight but it's been refreshing to see attacking football in the Championship rather than defensive grind in the Premier League. Sometimes grinding out wins is necessary in the Championship though, a la Bristol City, Coventry, Millwall etc. The season crumbled when Doak got injured but we shouldn't rely on a teenager on loan, and again selling our best players (ELL) was a big mistake. Hopefully no more talent will be allowed to leave again. Would like to see Mogga given another chance for his home club.

Dan: Understand the frustration with his in-game management and inexperience, but the question is who can we get next that's a step up? Carrick's style was entertaining, even when we weren't getting results. I can't go back to watching the sort of football we had under Wilder or Pulis.

Jerry: I think it was the right call to sack Carrick. He was determined to play a certain way, which is admirable, but he should have changed the team formation when the game needed it. He could have shown a bit more passion on the touchline.

Mark: Although the season was disappointing I feel the stewardship under Carrick has mostly been positive. I feel like the instability caused by changing the management team again when a promotion push next year is not beyond Middlesbrough could end up being short-sighted. The Championship is such a competitive league it does not take much to be towards the top or the bottom of the table. Will be happy to be proven wrong though!

Jack: It was definitely an announcement that no one was expecting but a lot of fans were certainly losing patience. It is probably the right time as well before pre-season and a transfer window.

Malcolm: The decision to sack Carrick is a mistake. The major problem this season was the injury list. So many key players out for long periods. Plus the sale of Latte Lathe. A new manager will be starting from scratch, whereas Carrick would just have needed a couple of new signings. Bringing back Doak will be important.

John: The new season is in eight weeks and transfer activity underway. Carrick's replacement has not been immediately announced. How long is the new manager going to get to prepare for 2025-26, especially if a clear out is required? If last season was sub par four weeks ago, why not make a change then?

Listen to more reaction on BBC Sounds.

Michael Carrick came under fire after Middlesbrough lost out in the race for the Championship play-offs and now he will not have an opportunity to make amends next season.

He has been the subject of a surprise sacking, but is it the right choice, Boro fans?

Should he have been given another shot or was his number up?

Do you think now is a good time to be in search of a new boss?

Let us know your thoughts here.

Mark Drury
BBC Radio Tees Middlesbrough commentator

Image source, Rex Features

Middlesbrough's decision to sack Michael Carrick may surprise some outside Teesside but one thing it can't be described as is a knee-jerk reaction.

More than a month has passed since Boro's 2-0 defeat at Coventry on the final day of the Championship season.

That loss was their 18th of a desperately disappointing season and was followed by the head coach insisting "I'm carrying on" in his BBC Radio Tees Sport post-match interview.

Many Boro fans had come to the conclusion he would be doing just that as the days and weeks ticked by without any sign of white smoke from the club's Rockliffe Park training ground. However, that silence was not indicative of inaction.

Boro's hierarchy had let it be known they would be conducting an in-depth review into the reasons a season where promotion had been targeted and budgeted for ended in a failure to reach the play-offs despite an unusually low points total – the lowest for a decade - being required to make them.

They were as good as their word, conducting a series of meetings, a number of which involved the head coach, while trying to block out the chorus of disapproval from a fan base which had largely become disenchanted and detached by the season's end.

Chairman Steve Gibson is known to be a big supporter of Carrick and backed his man in February when it seemed his time was up after a home defeat by a Watford side in miserable form led to boos around The Riverside and a seeming acceptance from the man himself that the end could be nigh.

So Wednesday's news is a sign that despite how much everyone at Middlesbrough might have wanted it to work for Carrick, after nearly three years in charge he was judged to be more of the problem than the solution to their promotion woes.

Carrick's first season in charge proved to be his best. He succeeded Chris Wilder in October 2022 and hauled an underachieving squad away from the lower reaches of the table before launching a run to the play-offs boosted by the January loan signings of Cameron Archer and Aaron Ramsey and a striker having the season of his life in Chuba Akpom.

In hindsight, those play-offs were also a sign of problems to come as Boro lost out to a Coventry side they'd allowed to sneak into the top six on the final day of the season while failing to score a goal over 180 minutes of football.

The following season saw Boro start terribly, losing five of their first seven Championship games and not recording a win until the eighth game of the season.

Promotion was effectively lost in those early couple of months but a run to the EFL Cup semi-finals gave the season some excitement and a strong end to the campaign (Boro lost just one of their last 12 games) and an eighth-placed finish gave hope this season would be different.

That was the belief inside the club too with last summer's impressive transfer window and the retention of coveted players like Hayden Hackney, Rav Van den Berg and Emmanuel Latte Lath showing the strength of Boro's backing for their head coach.

Backing brings expectation though and throughout the season Boro failed to meet it.

Carrick's supporters will point to January and the club-record sale of Latte Lath as the reason for Boro's 10th-place finish. The counter to that is the fact the player who replaced him, Kelechi Iheanacho, was one the head coach pushed strongly for. Iheanacho's record of one goal and two assists tells its own story.

The fact less well resourced clubs like Bristol City, Millwall and Blackburn all finished above them was a damning indictment of Boro's performance this season while Sunderland's play-off promotion rubbed salt into the wound.

Regis Le Bris showed what was possible with a squad of largely young, inexperienced players allied to imaginative coaching from a tactically flexible manager.

There will be a sense of sadness on Teesside that Carrick was unable to follow up on the promise of that first season when some of the football left fans purring. That sadness will be weighed against the reality the club have gone backwards in the seasons since.

Attention now will be on who comes next? Rob Edwards is known to be highly rated by head of football Kieran Scott while Sheffield Wednesday's Danny Rohl will be of interest to any Championship club without a manager after his sterling work at Hillsborough.

It is now 10 years since Boro's last promotion to the Premier League.

The next manager needs to be the one who brings that long wait to an end.