Championship rivals facing managerial uncertainty as Middlesbrough set to seal Carrick contract

Middlesbrough are close to sealing a new contract with Michael Carrick, with the head coach keen to commit his future to the club.

Currently plotting the club's summer transfer business as Boro aim to build on this season and earn promotion to the Premier League, Carrick is set to give Boro a huge boost in their ambitions to have a more longer-term vision and stability by signing a new deal which was close to being finalised during initial conversations back in February.

While that will provide Boro continuity in their quest to get back to the top flight next season, many of their rivals don't enjoy that luxury. Impacting planning for next season and creating uncertainty as far as how big an impact a new man can have, these are Boro's Championship rivals who currently have manager uncertainty.

READ MORE: Michael Carrick's new Middlesbrough contract will symbolise the perfect start to the summer

Norwich City

Having made the play-offs this season, Norwich were ultimately humbled by Leeds United in the second leg of the semi-finals and sacked David Wagner in the immediate aftermath. It was an expected division, with calls for the German's head earlier in the season when Boro won at Carrow Road. He survived that pressure to guide the Canaries to the play-offs but didn't quite impress enough to save his job.

Norwich are now searching for his successor and are said to have a shortlist of candidates they are in the process of interviewing. With Steve Cooper ruled out, FC Nordsjaelland's Johannes Hoff Thorup and Former AZ Alkmaar boss Pascal Jansen linked, the Canaries look set to name a foreign coach again, as has been the case with two of their last three bosses. The question then becomes how well a new boss gels with the squad, how well they take to their ideas, and how much of their own imprint they can put onto the squad with new signings.

As for the other play-off side, West Brom look set to stick with Carlos Corberan and he is planning for next season with the Baggies. Leeds United have made the decision to stick with Daniel Farke even if they don't beat Southampton in the play-off final, whereas Russell Martin's future is a little more uncertain should they fail to win promotion, but you'd expect the Saints would be more likely to stick with him for now.

Hull City

Having ploughed a lot of financial resources into making the play-offs this season, Hull City's owners made the shock decision to sack head coach Liam Rosenior when they ultimately fell short. As such, they are now searching for their next manager in the hope of challenging once again next term.

In a change in direction, they look to be targeting former Hamburg boss Tim Walter as their priority choice now. Though not yet finalised, talks continue with the German 48-year-old to take over at the MKM Stadium. Said to be a big personality, Walter was said to favour an attractive brand of football which was described by a HSV journalist as 'heart attack football' because of the risk element to our sister site Hull Live.

Cardiff City

The post-match press conference at Cardiff after Boro's recent win there was farcical. Head coach Erol Bulut was asked about his future with his contract up this summer and with uncertainty over whether he would stay. Before he was able to answer a question on his future, Mehmet Dalman interjected and answered for him - though still failed to offer any kind of clarity.

Now over three weeks on and there remains still no clarity on whether the Bluebirds will be led by Bulut or someone else next season. The hold up now, having initially been uncertainty from the Cardiff hierarchy, is believed to be from Bulut. Our sister site Wales Online claim a contract offer is on the table, but is for only another year, with Bulut believing he is deserving of more commitment in the form of a longer-term deal.

Sunderland

This season ended up being a really disappointing one for Sunderland as they followed up joining Boro in last term's play-offs by finishing 16th this term. That followed a decision to sack Tony Mowbray and replace him with Michael Beale, who only lasted 12 games before himself being sacked.

With Mike Dodds asked to take over until the end of the season, Sunderland have had ample time to find a new manager and yet there is still no appointment on Wearside. Sheffield Wednesday boss Danny Rohl, Swedish coach Bo Svensson and former Reims boss Will Still have been mentioned as potential candidates but there appears to be a degree of patience by the Sunderland decision-makers with regard to the appointment - keen, it's said, to get the decision right after failing to do so with Beale.

Plymouth Argyle

After losing Steven Schumacher to Stoke City in January, Plymouth appointed Ian Foster but he would last for just 16 games before being sacked, with director of football Neil Dewsnip ultimately stepping up as interim boss to just about steer the Pilgrims to safety on the final day of the season.

Now in the process of finding a new permanent manager, there were reports the Devon club were ambitiously targeting Rosenior following his surprise departure from Hull City. However, having failed to convince Rosenior, the Telegraph report that former Sheffield United boss Paul Heckingbottom is close to being handed the reins at Home Park.