Middlesbrough have reportedly shortlisted Cardiff City boss Brian Barry-Murphy as a potential replacement for Rob Edwards.
According to a report from journalist Alan Nixon, the Championship side face competition from Scottish giants Celtic in a bid to appoint the Irish coach.
The Teesside outfit are now searching for a new coach amid Edwards’ imminent departure for Wolves.
It was reported on Saturday that the clubs have agreed a deal for the 42-year-old, with talks underway for him to make the controversial switch to Molineux.
Former Wales international defender Edwards spent four years with the Midlands outfit as a player and then went on to manage their under-18’s, whilst also spending time as a first-team coach there too, and it now looks like he’s set to take the top job there.
Middlesbrough eye Cardiff City boss Brian Barry-Murphy
Middlesbrough have turned their attention to Barry-Murphy as a potential replacement for Edwards now that his exit is imminent.
However, it’s believed that Celtic have also shortlisted the 47-year-old as a candidate to take over the side in place of Brendan Rodgers, who resigned at the end of October amid the Hoops’ early season struggles.
Cardiff head coach Barry-Murphy has only been in charge of the League One side since the summer, but has earned plaudits for the club’s strong start to the campaign, with the team sitting fourth in the table after their most recent defeat away at Blackpool.
It’s understood that Boro have received a compensation fee from Wolves as part of the deal for Edwards, but that the Bluebirds will also be due some kind of fee if they are to release Barry-Murphy.
Celtic’s ties to the City Football Group have also been mentioned as a possible stumbling block for Middlesbrough, as Barry-Murphy previously worked as the under-21’s manager at Manchester City.
The Glasgow outfit reportedly use the CFG for background information on coaches, which could give them an edge in the race to appoint Barry-Murphy.
Brian Barry-Murphy appointment has potential for Middlesbrough, but Boro more likely to head down free agent route
Barry-Murphy has earned a strong reputation in the game for his work with younger players, and his start to life at Cardiff has been quite promising.
The 47-year-old has the potential to be a promising appointment for Boro, who should be an attractive proposition now given their position in the Championship.
It remains to be seen whether he’d be willing to jump ship from Cardiff so soon after joining the club, or if he’d prefer Boro over a possible move to Celtic.
But if Middlesbrough can convince him to join, then he could be the man to carry on this promotion-chasing form in the second tier – but you’d have to say given the fact Boro never target managers in jobs, it looks unlikely based on history that he’ll be the man for the job.
Steve Gibson has almost always favoured managers not in work, which the likes of Edwards and Michael Carrick have been in the past when hired, so if he moves away from that way of appointing managers, then it would be somewhat of a surprise.
