Michael Carrick is in pole position for Middlesbrough job and is closing in on the vacancy.
Former England and Manchester United midfielder Carrick has made no secret of his ambitions to get into management. He has been out of the game since leaving Old Trafford last December after a three-game stint as temporary boss following Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's dismissal.
Now, he is the hot favourite to succeed Chris Wilder, who was sacked by Middlesbrough at the start of the month with the club 22nd in the Championship. Goalkeeping coach Leo Percovich is in temporary charge and secured a win over Birmingham at the Riverside Stadium before losing at Millwall at the weekend.
Boro owner Steve Gibson is now stepping up his plans to appointment a permanent successor to Wilder. Carrick, 41, steadied United a year ago, winning two games and drawing at Chelsea after Solskjaer was axed last November.
Many fans felt with hindsight United would have been better had they left the Geordie in charge rather than appoint Ralf Rangnick on an interim basis.
Carrick, who won 34 England caps, was born in the North East but made his name at West Ham as a classy, intelligent midfielder before a move to Spurs and then United in 2006. Carrick made 464 appearances at Old Trafford, including seven years under the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson.
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Meanwhile, Boro confirmed Wilder's departure with a statement on their club website which read: "Middlesbrough Football Club have terminated the contract of manager Chris Wilder with immediate effect.
"Leo Percovich will take over first team affairs in the interim basis, 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."
