Middlesbrough’s Turmoil as Rob Edwards Pursues Wolves Opportunity

The recent approach by Wolverhampton Wanderers has thrown Middlesbrough into disarray. Initially, Middlesbrough rejected Wolves’ advances, expressing outrage at the Premier League club’s interest in their newly appointed head coach, Rob Edwards. Subsequently, Edwards was removed from his managerial responsibilities ahead of the team’s Championship match against Birmingham City, did not conduct training, and was notably absent from a pre-match press conference that was abruptly canceled. Hours later, Middlesbrough issued a statement confirming that they had reluctantly allowed Wolves to speak with Edwards.

The club’s statement read: “Middlesbrough Football Club have, subject to the completion of an agreement with Wolverhampton Wanderers FC, given head coach Rob Edwards permission to speak to Wolves. We initially rejected an approach from Wolves on the basis that Rob signed a three-year contract with MFC less than six months ago. Following discussions with Rob, we were disappointed to learn that he wanted to speak with Wolves regarding their head coach vacancy. We have now agreed terms with Wolves, subject to the completion of the relevant paperwork. First team coaches Adi Viveash and Harry Watling, along with Academy manager Craig Liddle, will oversee team affairs for Saturday’s game against Birmingham City at the Riverside.”

However, Middlesbrough’s frustration did not end there. According to reports from The Telegraph, key officials at the club believe Wolves violated Premier League conduct regulations in their pursuit of Edwards. A club source noted, “Unfortunately, Wolves have behaved at a standard less than we expect, and we believe their conduct is in breach of Premier League regulations.”

Former Ireland defender Tony Cascarino also criticized Edwards, stating: “To jump ship and go to Wolverhampton Wanderers after what? We’re through 10 games now in the Premier League. I think I’d want to see it through at Boro. I always felt like if I signed a contract, I wasn’t going knocking on doors to try and get away. I never asked for a transfer in my career. And I think if you’re a manager, how can you just jump ship? You know, just leave? When you’re asking players to be loyal and stay at a football club and we’re on a journey, then suddenly this journey changes because you’ve been offered a job…”

Edwards is no stranger to Wolves, having made 111 appearances for the club between 2004 and 2008 as a dependable defender. He returned to the club years later as a coach, first joining the youth setup in 2014 and gradually advancing through the ranks to manage the Under-23s. His reputation as a promising young coach was solidified during his tenure at Forest Green Rovers, where he achieved promotion to League One in 2021. A brief spell at Watford followed, but his significant managerial breakthrough came at Luton Town, leading them to Premier League promotion in 2023 against all odds.

Despite the swirling rumors this week, Edwards attempted to downplay speculation linking him to Wolves. “You know my links to the club [Wolves],” he stated. “But my full focus is on this job here, which is a brilliant job, and trying to turn things around. Speculation is hard for me to comment about. We’ve done a decent job so far. It’s all speculation anyway. I never get drawn on stuff that’s all hypothetical, and I don’t want to get drawn on that. I love being Middlesbrough manager, and that’s what I want to think about. All I can say is I’ve not given it a single thought because my focus is just on this. It’s all the stuff that my daughter was telling me about.”

Wolves find themselves in a dire situation, sitting at the bottom of the Premier League, nine points adrift of safety, and appearing to be in freefall. Interim head coach James Collins will oversee Saturday’s challenging match against Chelsea, which serves as the final fixture before the international break and likely the last game before Edwards potentially takes over. For Edwards, the task at hand is daunting; he inherits a troubled squad lacking confidence and plagued by inconsistency. However, his past successes at Forest Green and Luton demonstrate his ability to thrive in challenging circumstances.