Rob Edwards and Gerhard Struber are understood to be the leading candidates to be Bristol City’s next head coach

Daniel Hargraves Bristol Rovers reporter

17:08, 13 Jun 2025

Rob Edwards (left) and Gerhard Struber (right) are believed to be the main candidates to be Bristol City’s next head coach(Image: Getty Images)

Bristol City are getting closer to hiring a new head coach with an appointment expected to be made next week, Bristol Live understands.

It appears as though Rob Edwards and Austrian Gerhard Struber are the leading contenders for the job, although there is not believed to be a frontrunner at this moment in time.

Despite making clear progress in the search for a new boss this week, an appointment over the weekend is looking extremely unlikely at this moment in time as the Robins carefully consider who they will bring in as Liam Manning’s replacement. It is expected to be next week.

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Edwards is reportedly in talks with another Championship club in Middlesbrough but very much remains a strong contender for the vacancy at Ashton Gate, along with Struber.

The Austrian’s last job was in the German second tier with FC Köln last season as he guided the Billy Goats to the brink of promotion to the Bundesliga before brutally losing his job with two games remaining, along with the club’s sporting director.

He also spent just shy of a season in his native Austria with Red Bull Salzburg, having spent three years prior to that within the Red Bull Group at New York Red Bulls.

The 48-year-old also boasts Championship experience, having managed Barnsley in the second tier between 2019 and 2020. Struber arrived at Oakwell with the Tykes in a precarious position before guiding them to a great escape.

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Meanwhile, Edwards is a name more well-known to City fans for his time in charge of Luton Town. The 42-year-old spent just over two years at Kenilworth Road, leading the Hatters to promotion to the Premier League via the Championship play-offs in 2023. They were relegated the following season after finishing 18th and collecting 26 points.

Luton then struggled back in the second tier last term and Edwards departed in January. The Hatters have since suffered a second consecutive relegation to League One.

Edwards has also managed in the South West previously, guiding Forest Green Rovers to the League Two title in the 2021/22 campaign. He has also had roles in charge of Telford United and Wolves’ under-23s as well as working within the FA alongside a number of England age groups. Between his time at Forest Green and Luton, the Englishman also spent four months at Watford.

City saw former head coach Manning depart for Norwich City last week after the Canaries activated the 39-year-old’s release clause.

The Robins finished sixth last season, their best campaign for 17 years as they qualified for the Championship play-offs. They were unfortunately beaten 6-0 on aggregate by Sheffield United but will be targeting more success in the new term.

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