Rob Edwards Pursues Dream Opportunity with Wolves

Rob Edwards, the manager of Middlesbrough, has received permission to engage in discussions with Premier League club Wolverhampton Wanderers regarding their managerial vacancy.

Middlesbrough expressed disappointment over Edwards’ interest in the Wolves position, especially given that he joined the club as manager just four months prior. The club has confirmed that they reached a compensation agreement with Wolves, contingent upon the completion of necessary paperwork.

As a result of Wolves’ interest, Edwards was sidelined from the recent match against Birmingham City, with first-team coaches Adi Viveash and Harry Watling, along with academy manager Craig Liddle, stepping in to oversee the team.

Wolves initially had a request to speak with Edwards declined by Middlesbrough on Thursday, but negotiations took place between him and the club’s management on Friday. Consequently, he did not conduct his usual pre-match press conference nor participated in the last training session before the game.

Edwards, a former defender, had signed a three-year contract to succeed Michael Carrick as Middlesbrough manager less than five months ago, during which time the team was positioned third in the Championship.

Sources indicate that although Middlesbrough was frustrated with both Wolves’ approach and Edwards’ readiness to consider the move, he remains prepared to fulfill the responsibilities from which he has been temporarily removed.

Edwards reportedly regards the Wolves position as a dream opportunity, having made over 100 appearances for the club from 2004 to 2008. He has personal ties to the area, having grown up in Telford and still having family nearby, although logistics do not appear to be a significant concern in his decision-making process.

Former Coventry and Aston Villa striker Dion Dublin commented on the situation, stating that Middlesbrough fans should not be surprised by Edwards’ desire to leave so soon, as such occurrences are common in football. Dublin emphasized that the prospect of a more favorable opportunity often outweighs notions of loyalty.

Wolves made the decision to terminate the contract of manager Vitor Pereira on Sunday following a dismal 10-game winless run that left the team at the bottom of the Premier League table. Following Pereira’s dismissal, reports indicated that Edwards was among the frontrunners to fill the managerial vacancy, alongside former boss Gary O’Neil.

While Wolves held discussions with O’Neil, he ultimately withdrew from consideration, leading to Edwards emerging as the preferred candidate for the role.

After retiring from professional play in 2013, Edwards transitioned into coaching, briefly serving as interim manager at Wolves in 2016. His coaching career included stints at non-league Telford and the England Under-16 team before he became head coach at Forest Green Rovers in 2021.

Edwards subsequently took charge of Championship side Watford but was dismissed after just 11 matches. In November 2022, he succeeded Nathan Jones as Luton Town manager, achieving promotion to the Premier League in his first season, although Luton was relegated in May 2024.

Further developments in this story are expected.