This post is a part of Football League World’s ‘Terrace Talk’ series, which offers our FLW Fan Pundits their personal thoughts on teams, players, managers, breaking news, possible signings, and more.
Middlesbrough is currently searching for their second head coach of the season after Rob Edwards was finally appointed manager of Wolves after days of waiting.
Prior to last Saturday’s 2-1 victory against Birmingham City, the club stood down the former Middlesbrough manager, who was grudgingly given permission by Boro to speak with the Premier League’s worst team.
Earlier this week, it was reported that the former Wolves defender would be taking over in the Molineux dugout. After playing for the team for more than 100 games and serving as a coach for a few years after retiring, this is Edwards’ fourth time back.
Edwards, who was born in Telford, just 30 minutes from Wolverhampton, obviously has a close relationship with the team. In a final Instagram post, he stated that the Premier League team is the only team he would contemplate leaving the Riverside for.
https://www.instagram.com/robedwardsteam/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=cb8a0f32-210a-40c4-8f81-2298b4f96e2b
“This has been one of the toughest decisions of my career,” Edwards writes. “To be honest, I never would have thought about leaving Middlesbrough for another team.
“For me, Wolves is a unique club. My family still resides there, and it’s where I developed as a coach and player. I’ve always wanted to return, and these chances don’t come along very frequently.
“Middlesbrough is an amazing club with a wonderful owner, staff, and ardent fans. I want to express my gratitude to the entire club for giving me the chance to manage this team; it is an excellent bunch of players that I sincerely hope can succeed this season.
“The atmosphere we created together and how well everyone got along so fast make me incredibly proud of the players, staff, and supporters who make it all possible.
“I genuinely hope that everyone at Middlesbrough has the finest possible season and beyond. Rob.
Regretfully, the majority of the Boro fan base doesn’t agree with him, even if he sincerely hopes that his old team will continue to grow after his departure.
Rob Edwards leaves a parting message following his hiring with Wolves, and Middlesbrough issues a claim.
Middlesbrough supporter and Football League World commentator Liam Day doesn’t trust a word Rob Edwards says after switching to Wolves.
In the end, it makes sense that he moved in order to be nearer to his family, have the opportunity to manage a team with whom he has previously had ties, and get back into the Premier League and earn more money.
The transfer was somewhat more difficult to accept, though, because of his remarks made during his brief tenure as Middlesbrough’s manager regarding the necessity for the team to be a family, especially after Boro supporters mocked Morgan Whittaker’s replacement less than two months ago.
“There’s no sympathy, and there never will be sympathy,” replied Liam. “It doesn’t help me at all, and that statement is a bunch of PR.
“His logic made sense to me right away. He was trying to convey this message here, but it’s also an opportunity to join the Premier League and earn more money.
“We need to be a family, we need to be together,” he says, and then he seizes the chance.
“That is really phony, and it renders everything he says meaningless. There is no turning back. He didn’t even offer an apology, and no comment would have been helpful.
Edwards’ decision to join a Wolves team that appears headed for relegation, in Liam’s opinion, is a significant risk.
Given how fast he departed the Riverside once a nice offer arrived, the fan pundit wonders if anyone else would be willing to take a chance on him if he is unable to make an impression at Molineux and ends himself jobless in the summer.
“It’s not a good look, and it could really damage his reputation and future in management, especially now if he fails at Wolves,” Liam said.
“He’s now known as someone who will jump at any given opportunity, and he has no loyalty.”
Rob Edwards’ departure to Wolves may never be forgiven by Middlesbrough supporters.
Although it’s simple to blame Middlesbrough supporters’ emotional reaction on the news of Edwards’ leaving, this emotion might never truly leave the Riverside.
Given that the Hatters had the 16th-best record in the Championship under his successor, Matt Bloomfield, and that Edwards was primarily to blame for Luton Town’s relegation to League One the previous season, Boro had taken a chance in bringing him in.
Edwards moved on after Middlesbrough provided the former Watford and Forest Green Rovers manager with the opportunity to reestablish that reputation.
It makes sense that Riverside fans are upset over this choice, but don’t expect that sentiment to subside anytime soon.
Now, the emphasis is on making sure that the players on the field, not the man in the dugout, were responsible for the strong start.
It will be considered justice for their former head coach if Middlesbrough and Wolves can switch spots in the Premier League the following season.
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