Middlesbrough have confirmed that they have parted company with manager Chris Wilder after 11 months in charge.
Boro sit 22nd in the Championship table, having lost five of their first 11 Championship matches, winning just twice.
The club confirmed his departure in a statement that read: “Middlesbrough Football Club have terminated the contract of manager Chris Wilder with immediate effect.
“Leo Percovich will take over first team affairs on an interim basis and he will be assisted by Craig Liddle, Mark Tinkler and Lee Cattermole.
“The club would like to place on record its thanks to Chris and his staff for all their hard work over the past 11 months.”
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Wilder took over at the Riverside Stadium in November 2021, replacing Neil Warnock. His appointment was viewed as a shrewd appointment for the North East club and it was expected that he would propel them into promotion contenders.
He arrived on Teesside as the most qualified coach to take the role in terms of promotion experience, having guided Sheffield United from League One to the Premier League and before that, Northampton Town from League Two to League One.
However, with 16 wins in his 40 Championship games in charge, having only picked up 21 points from their last 20 matches, a change in the dugout was imminent. Following the 1-0 defeat at fellow strugglers Coventry City at the weekend, it was feared that result would be Wilder’s last chance to keep his job.
It has already been reported that Rob Edwards, who was recently relieved of his duties at Watford, is set to be interviewed for the managerial vacancy this week and that he is high on the club’s list of potential replacements. It is also believed that current AFC Bournemouth interim boss Gary O’Neil, who spent four years as a Boro player between 2007-2011, is also a name in consideration for the position.
