Ex-Rangers coach gets key English Championship job
Rob Edwards has drafted in Watling to work alongside him after he joined the Riverside club on a three-year deal.
Watling worked at Ibrox during Michael Beale's tenure. He previously worked for Chelsea and West Ham.
Watling will be in the Boro dugout as the English side make the trip to Glasgow to play Russell Martin's side on Saturday, July 26.
Read more:
'It's a real privilege to be given the opportunity to be head coach of this great football club,' said Edwards. 'It's something that's not lost on me, how big this is, how important this is, and what it means to people. There is an amazing fanbase.
'It felt instantly that this was right for me, and it got me excited. If I was going to come back in, I wanted to come back in at a place where we had a chance, and we have a really good chance here.
'We have a brilliant owner who historically gives his coaches time, support, and the tools needed to try and be successful. I can't wait to get started now.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Record
an hour ago
- Daily Record
Rangers Champions League draw LIVE as Euro path to be mapped out in Nyon
Russell Martin will follow the 'one game at a time' mantra when the Rangers boss speaks at his Panathinaikos pre-match press conference. But new Ibrox gaffer will no doubt have one eye on events in Nyon as they learn their potential next Champions League qualifying round opponents. Martin is gearing up for his competitive Light Blues debut when the Greeks head to Glasgow on Tuesday night. Yet before a ball is even kicked in that huge European clash, Rangers will go into the hat for the next round. And the Ibrox giants will learn their potential Europa League opponents, should they lose over two legs to Panathinaikos, with UEFA making the draw for both competitions. There will be a lot of ifs and buts yet fans – if not necessarily Martin and his squad – are sure to be working out all the scenarios that could lie ahead. Whatever the outcome when the balls are plucked out of the big bowl in Switzerland, it's safe to say Rangers face a huge period. There is even a chance they could miss out on European group football completely which would be a huge financial blow.
Scotsman
an hour ago
- Scotsman
Former Hearts and Middlesbrough star could make summer transfer after nightmare injury spell
The striker has Hearts, Middlesbrough, Cardiff City and more on his CV. Sign up to our Hearts newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... A former Hearts and Middlesbrough striker could make a summer transfer move - despite a memorable moment at the weekend. There are plenty of movers and shakers in the transfer market with former Jambos amongst them. One of them could be Uche Ikpeazu, who fired home a late winner for St Johnstone in their latest Premier Sports Cup group stage match, scoring the only goal in a 1-0 away win at Inverness CT. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Saints were relegated from the Premiership last season but Ikpeazu missed almost all of the campaign with injury, having been initially signed by Craig Levein, who he worked with at Hearts. The powerful forward spent between 2018-2020 at Tynecastle before moving to Wycombe Wanderers then Middlesbrough, before a stint in Turkey with Konyaspor, and Port Vale brought him to back to UK football two years ago. Uche Ikpeazu St Johnstone future latest Boss Simo Valakari told The Courier: 'I'm happy for big Uche. It has not been easy – he had not scored for a long time so I'm happy for him to get the winner. We still need to see his contract situation and how it is with him. He's still working with his fitness and we'll see how the situation is. I've not been playing him as much as he would have liked because we don't know if he will be with us or not. 'That's the situation. He knows as well. It's up to him. I want him here but it's up to him what he wants to do. Very early in the game, Inverness went to our goal and Toby Steward made a fantastic save that kept us in the game. That changed very much how the game could have gone. If we had gone 1-0 down after a couple of minutes, it would have been much more difficult. 'Some moments, we kind of lose our heads a little bit with new players – it's a new team. In difficult moments we are not that strong together yet but, as I said, I see in moments it is there. 'With the ball we will be much better and that's normal. 'You can't buy this work rate, you can't buy this attitude. We left the ego out. We knew that we needed to come here and do the ugly things right.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad What was Uche Ikpeazu's injury? The striker had a knee injury with several complications that meant his St Johnstone debut did not come until April this year. Ikpeazu said at the time of the nightmare scenario: 'Some days you come in and think: 'Where do I go from here?' The club sorted me out to see Dr Iain Murray in Edinburgh and he analysed the knee, had another surgery and found what was going on. An infection was hiding in there and he sorted it out quite quickly. 'That's five operations. If not for Dr Murray and how meticulous he was, I don't know when I would be back. A big thank you to him. He kind of saved me. I didn't think I'd play this season and, to be honest, I didn't know when I'd play. And it was great the club brought in Caitlin (physio Caitlin Wright, who moved from Hamilton mid-season). 'She's very thorough and takes her job seriously, which is important for a physio. You can't say that about everyone. Early mornings, late afternoons. There have been a lot of hard hours. I've missed so much football.'
Scottish Sun
an hour ago
- Scottish Sun
Mikel Arteta drops huge hint Arsenal WILL sign Viktor Gyokeres as transfer saga rumbles on
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) MIKEL ARTETA says Arsenal are still 'short' of depth and quality and will continue to spend big in the transfer window. And the Gunners boss has hinted that they could welcome more new signings on their pre-season tour of Singapore with a £63.5million deal for Viktor Gyokeres edging closer. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 5 Viktor Gyokeres hasn't signed in time for the start of Arsenal's pre-season tour in Asia Credit: Getty 5 But Mikel Arteta has hinted a deal is close Credit: AFP 5 He will be Arsenal's fifth signing of the summer, with the latest being Noni Madueke from Chelsea Credit: Getty Arsenal have bought four players so far this summer – splashing out over £120m on the likes of Martin Zubimendi, Christian Norgaard, Kepa Arrizabalaga and Noni Madueke. Three of those four are currently in Asia with Madueke needing some rest from his Club World Cup participation, having completed his £52m move from Chelsea last Friday. Arteta is keen to transform his squad even further – on the brink of finally landing an elite No.9 in Sporting Lisbon's Gyokeres with negotiations over add-ons at the final stages, while Valencia defender Cristhian Mosquera is also in talks over a £16.5m switch and Crystal Palace's £60m-rated Eberechi Eze remains a target. Gyokeres is adamant he will never play for Sporting again, currently staying away from training, and has his heart set on playing for Arteta. Read more Arsenal 'VERY CLEAR' Arteta says Arsenal followed right processes with Partey amid rape charge There had been hope that the Gyokeres transfer would be completed in time for him to play some part of Arsenal's pre-season opener against AC Milan in Singapore on Wednesday. And asked about the Swede, Arteta said: 'I cannot comment on any player who is not part of our group yet. When we have something concrete to offer, we will do that.' Pressed on if new faces will be flying out to join up with the squad soon, he continued: 'There are a lot of parties and things that we have to bear in mind to get a player over the line and here. I'm very hopeful that we are going to do it very soon. 'There's still a long time in the window and we are seeking still, in terms of numbers. BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK 5 TRANSFER NEWS LIVE - KEEP UP WITH ALL THE LATEST FROM A BUSY SUMMER WINDOW 'We are short and we have to improve the depth and quality of the squad. We are constantly looking in the market. 'Ideally you want it from day one in pre-season. We have done very well so far, I'm very pleased with how the club has supported the improvements that we required in the team. Why Mikel Arteta must deliver best team in London a trophy | Arsenal Exposed '[Sporting director] Andrea [Berta] and the team have done an excellent job trying to push everything forward. You see the club ownership and the ambition we have, the alignment we have. There is excitement about the new season. 'There's a long time to go in the window but we still have hopes we can improve the team and we will continue to try and do that. 'Until that happens, focus on the players we have and focus on them.'
