‘League One here we come’ – Middlesbrough fans react as new candidate emerges for manager’s job

Middlesbrough fans react as a new candidate emerges for the manager’s job a few weeks after the departure of Chris Wilder.

According to reports, Lee Cattermole is being considered, a local lad with the club in his heart, but would be a huge call by Steve Gibson.

The former footballer is now the bookies favourite (via Sky Bet) to be the next Middlesbrough boss and it comes after talks with Michael Carrick broke down on Tuesday night but is reportedly still in the frame.

Lee Cattermole is now the bookies favourite to be the new Middlesbrough manager.

(Via: @SkyBet)#Boro pic.twitter.com/LmBR462UzH

— The Second Tier (@secondtierpod) October 12, 2022

Middlesbrough’s managerial hunt is expected to go into next week after a round of talks with Carrick proved fruitless.

Boro are going through a “rigorous process” to decide on their next head coach, including looking at internal options that include the likes of Leo Percovich and Cattermole, who holds a Uefa A licence and has apparently impressed in his role as under-18 manager.

They spoke to Carrick on Tuesday but he is unlikely to be the next manager having was keen on the role but after initial discussions, he felt it was not the right job for him to start his frontline managerial career.

The club remain in contact with Rob Edwards after initial talks last week went well – although further negotiations would need to take place on contract demands and personal terms.

He is firmly in contention for the vacant job and is keen on it; Edwards has a backroom team ready for the role if that is the direction Steve Gibson decides to go.

That decision complicate thing with West Brom also showing interest in former Watford boss Edwards to replace Steve Bruce, who was dismissed on Monday.

Other names being looked at by Boro include former Huddersfield manager Carlos Corberan, who departed Olympakios mid-September and is interested in the job. He is also in the running for the Hawthorns position.

Boro, who sit 21st in the Championship, made clear that they intend to be exhaustive in their search for a new manager after Chris Wilder and Neil Warnock’s unsuccessful stints. They need to get this right.

After tensions with Wilder over the club’s recruitment policy, Boro decided to alter their model from all-powerful manager to head coach – which will rule out Sean Dyche, who was also linked to the position.

This is how Middlesbrough fans took to react on the news as new candidate Lee Cattermole emerges for the manager’s job…

@rossgrosvenor: If Agnew, Cattermole or Perkovich get the Boro job then it’s proof that Gibson really doesn’t give a fuck about the club anymore. His good will from ’86 has seriously worn off by now, mistake after mistake from him. #Boro #UTB #Middlesbrough

@Mel_hunter1: Please god not Lee Cattermole

@dejite007: Lee Cattermole without league experience. This gamble won’t take Gibson anywhere, I really do not think #Boro are Premier league anytime soon.

@UTB76: Absolute disaster if he does. He’s lost the fans

@Gazquig: Sack the board

@carter25690: Steve fucking Agnew… Jesus Christ, stop the bus I’m getting off

@Matt_Rowney: We thought we were already in The Banter Era. Haha, we’ve not even entered it yet!

@DaleB96_: People of this generation will not know about this guy he used to break legs for a living what a player hahaha

@GregNic1: Time for Gibson to sell up

@Paulgarbs: You are kidding me 🤦🏻‍♂️

@mista_smith: If this is true, Gibson has lost the plot

@fletchertgraham: I know a lot of #Boro fans are going to hate me for this opinion but I honestly think Steve Gibson has just given up.

@notSm1th_: If Gibson even thinks of appointing cattermole he can fuck right off #boro

@Steveo0511: Chairman going against the man he brings in to run football decisions of the club! Clubs going one way at the moment

@karlbenwatson: So we already have division amongst the Boro hierarchy. Gibson and Bausor will get their way meaning a cheap replacement. Scott probably wouldn’t hang around for too much longer either.

@_TY_97: So if Scott wants Edwards and Gibson wants Cattermole please can we let Scott do his job considering we brought him in to make decisions #boro

@Jordanwalker280: Surely if u bring a director of football in to run the football decisions u let him decide. Going against him is gonna do one thing. Scott will leave soon

@Mike_Kayley: Yeah would be a huge call, massive gamble and an unpopular choice

@MichaelTG91: Baffling behaviour from Steve Gibson, cannot genuinely believe that this is being contemplated. 😞We deserve a relegation battle if this is considered one of our better options.

@jamesboyle82: What has he done to get this job? He hasn’t even finished his badges… Even before this story, I’m beginning to worry about Gibson, he seems to meddle more than he likes to give off, and he had more than a few misses now.. UTB

@ClarkRDanny: I’ll genuinely not be renewing my season ticket next year if Cattermole gets the job. Edwards and Corberan both currently out of work and we’re looking for the cheapest possible option yet again. No lessons learnt from the Woodgate saga whatsoever. Grim. #boro

@MattyRobsonTV: Why on earth is Lee Cattermole now our most likely manager?? Just shows there’s no ambition/interest at all in progression and development and it’s the most cheapest, easiest get out of jail option we have 🤦‍♂️ Absolute insult to the club and the fans 😡 #Boro

@Dunning93MFC: Lee cattermole as the new #Boro manager would be worst idea ever he will lose the fans if he does this

@reggiethomas138: Something is very wrong with the vacant managers role at ‘The Boro’. Carrick & Cattermole, both with zero managerial experience with the club near the bottom of the league… it’s a big risk!! Where are the experienced candidates? Why don’t they want the job? #boro

@ScottCu86: Gibson’s going to shoot himself in the foot with this appointment. He done the same with woodgate.

@ianclennett: If Cattermole is appointed, I’m done. No going back. #boro #utb

@Steweiser74: Super Lee Cattlemoles red n white army 🔴⚪️#boro #utb

@CalRoddy14: I know Cattermole is really highly thought of as a coach and will possibly be a good manager in future years. But we need to show more ambition with this appointment. It’ll turn toxic if he appoints him. #boro

@weareboro: This can’t be right. Did we not see how it went with Woodgate? Jobs for the boys, doing it on the cheap. If Gibbo sanctions this he deserves what comes next.

@lukew_81: This would be a disaster if it happens. No disrespect to Cattermole, but the predicament we’re in, we need previous managerial experience imo. Think we’re in real danger of going down!