Gary O’Neil, a former player for Middlesbrough FC, is apparently the team’s top contender to succeed Rob Edwards, who left on Saturday afternoon in a highly contentious manner.

After initially rejecting a formal approach, Middlesbrough finally allowed the 42-year-old to speak with the ownership group of his former club, and Edwards is expected to be announced as the new manager of Wolverhampton Wanderers in the coming days. This is part of a bizarre managerial saga that had its share of twists and turns.

Following a 3-0 loss to Fulham on November 1st, the winless Premier League team fired Vitor Pereira from his post at Molineux. James Collins and Richard Walker then watched the Old Gold and Black’s winless streak continue against Chelsea on Saturday night.

Nevertheless, it was a satisfying conclusion to the most hectic of weeks at the Riverside Stadium, as the Teesside team defeated an in-form Birmingham City team 2-1 to reclaim the Championship’s automatic promotion spots. Adi Viveash, Harry Watling, and Craig Liddle selected the team, and local players Dael Fry and Hayden Hackney scored goals.

With O’Neil once again at the center of a managerial drama involving the former Boro manager, the aforementioned Gibson, Neil Bausor, and Kieran Scott have the two-week international break to consider all options about Edwards’ long-term successor in the North East.

The top contender to succeed Rob Edwards at Middlesbrough FC is Gary O’Neil.

Even though O’Neil was fired at Molineux, where Wanderers were in the relegation zone at the time, his reputation has held steady over the last 11 months, and he has been connected to other Premier League or EFL openings.

As expected, O’Neil started discussions with the Wolves hierarchy about a potential reunion after Pereira, who took over in WV1 after his departure, was given his P45 by Fosun Group last week. However, it soon became apparent that these talks had reached a dead end, and the aforementioned Edwards was given the position.

The former West Ham United midfielder was then linked to the Southampton opening on Friday afternoon. On Sunday morning, Football League World exclusively disclosed that O’Neil had been contacted by Norwich City, one of his former playing clubs, about taking over at Carrow Road after Liam Manning was fired on Saturday. The Canaries are currently in the relegation zone after losing since August 30th.

Football Insider, however, reported Monday afternoon that Middlesbrough has opened preliminary negotiations over the potential of a reunion at Riverside and believes the former AFC Bournemouth manager is their best choice to succeed Edwards.

In fact, O’Neil played for Middlesbrough from 2007 until January 2011, when he transferred to Upton Park, just months before West Ham joined his old employers in the Championship.

The selection of Gary O’Neil may cause conflict among Middlesbrough FC supporters.

Given that Middlesbrough is now in a good position in the league to accomplish such accomplishments, it is reasonable to assume that some fans would prefer an experienced leader in the dugout who can bring promotion.

O’Neil, who is only 42, received a lot of recognition for his ability to keep Bournemouth in the top division when Scott Parker was fired in August 2022. He was also praised for his ability to accomplish the same in his first season with Wolves after Julen Lopetegui’s premature departure.

As a result, both parties would typically be excited and intrigued by a maiden foray into EFL management with such a resume.

The former midfielder later admitted to being booked against Bolton Wanderers in a 4-1 loss so he could watch the US Masters before the club was relegated in 2008–09, but some Boro fans are unlikely to have forgiven him for some of his actions on Teesside.

He would therefore be under immediate pressure to disprove these doubters.