Wolves now see Rob Edwards as a leading choice to replace Vitor Pereira as manager, having failed to bring Gary O’Neil back to the club.
Pereira was relieved of his duties over the weekend, following a dreadful start to the season that sees Wanderers sit bottom of the Premier League table, with Jeff Shi confirming the decision.
“Vitor and his team worked tirelessly for Wolves and helped guide us through a challenging period last season, for which we are grateful. Unfortunately, the start to this season has been a disappointment and, despite our strong desire to give the head coach time and matches to find an improvement, we have reached a point where we must make a change. We thank Vitor and his staff for their efforts and wish them the very best for the future.”
O’Neil had emerged as a front-runner to replace Pereira, but the former Wolves manager has now reportedly decided against a return to Molineux, feeling it isn’t the right time.
Meanwhile, former Wanderers striker Robbie Keane is another name who has been thrown into the mix, and now a key update has emerged regarding Middlesbrough manager Edwards taking charge.
Edwards speaks out about taking Wolves job
Speaking to BBC Radio Tees, Edwards didn’t rule out taking over as Wolves manager, but admitted his focus is on his current club at the moment.
“I can understand it with my links to the club but my full focus is on this job here, which is a brilliant job, and trying to turn things around for a really big game against Leicester. It’s hard for me to comment on speculation and anything other than Middlesbrough. We’ve done a decent job so far, and all I care about is trying to win tomorrow.”
Journalist Ben Jacobs has added that Edwards is high on Wolves’ wishlist after O’Neil’s snub and has a release clause in his Boro contract, with the Old Gold looking to ‘try and line up a replacement for Pereira before the Chelsea game’.
Edwards is an impressive young manager who already knows Wolves well, not only spending four years there as a player, but also having a brief spell in interim charge back in 2016.
The 42-year-old famously guided Luton Town into the Premier League from the Championship, which was a special achievement, and he has been hailed by journalist Mark Ogden for his “ultra-positive” approach.
Middlesbrough
14
1.79
Luton Town
103
1.18
Watford
11
1.27
Forest Green
53
1.75
England Under-16s
1
0.00
Wolves Under-23s
34
1.76
Telford United
42
1.26
While Edwards will clearly be focusing on guiding Middlesbrough into the top flight, the lure of Wolves could be great for him, both in terms of returning to the club and also getting another Premier League job.
He is still a relatively young manager, so there is some risk in Wanderers appointing him, at a time when a more experienced head who knows how to get out of trouble arguably makes more sense.
But if those high up at the club feel that the 3-4-2-1-playing Edwards is the right man to get Wolves out of this current mess, they need to be trusted, with age only a number and the Englishman already impressing so much in his managerial career.
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