Rob Edwards has come under fire from Match of the Day analyst Alan Shearer for his choice to join Premier League bottom team Wolverhampton Wanderers instead of Championship powerhouse Middlesbrough.
After an incredible start to the season, Middlesbrough had became unexpected automatic promotion contenders in the Championship when Edwards took over in June, signing a three-year contract to replace Michael Carrick.
Following Vitor Pereira’s dismissal last Sunday, Edwards was connected to Wolves, which sparked speculation over his future at the Riverside Stadium. However, on Thursday, Boro rejected the Midlands team’s first bid for the 42-year-old.
Edwards was then stood down for Boro’s match against Birmingham City on Saturday after telling the team that he wanted to discuss a potential transfer to Molineux, where he played for four years before taking on the roles of coach and interim manager.
A compensation value of over £2 million has been agreed upon with Boro, and Edwards is poised to sign a three-and-a-half-year contract with Wolves. His hiring is anticipated to be confirmed early next week while negotiations continue regarding the composition of his coaching team.
Under assistant coach Adi Viveash’s leadership, Boro defeated Birmingham 2-1 in Edwards’ absence to regain second place in the Championship standings, while Wolves lost 3-0 at Chelsea on Saturday to drop to the bottom of the Premier League with just two points.
As Rob Edwards gets ready to trade Middlesbrough for Wolves, Alan Shearer responds.
Shearer acknowledged that it is difficult for the Teesside team to lose their head coach at such an early point in his employment, and he suggested that he might have an impossible time keeping his new team in the Premier League when asked if he was shocked by Edwards’ decision to quit Middlesbrough for Wolves.
“Well, I get his connection with Wolves and where he is and has a house in that particular area, but I think Middlesbrough gave him a great opportunity and I think it’s very harsh on them,” Shearer stated on Match of the Day.
“From his perspective, I believe there is a significant risk because I don’t see them remaining up at all.
“I don’t see enough ability in that squad, and I don’t see it being very inviting for any player to go there in January either, so it’s a big gamble.”
Cardiff City head coach Brian Barry-Murphy is reportedly one name on Boro’s radar as they start looking for Edwards’ replacement. Former Wolves manager Gary O’Neil and Millwall manager Alex Neil have also been mentioned.
After the summer gamble, Rob Edwards and Wolves’ situation will greatly irritate Middlesbrough.
It was a significant gamble for Middlesbrough to hire Edwards in the summer after his unsuccessful stint at Luton Town, and many people thought he was lucky to get the Riverside Stadium position.
Although Edwards was a great choice and guided his team into automatic promotion contention, his departure after less than five months in charge is highly contentious, especially in light of his prior remarks regarding his love for the team and his emphasis on unity.
The Boro supporters’ ire at Edwards’ impending departure was evident in the stands during Saturday’s match against Birmingham, where they were chanting against him and holding up placards denouncing their soon-to-be former head coach.
Edwards’ decision to move to Molineux is even more puzzling given that no team has ever survived after collecting just two points from their first 11 games, and it is hard to argue with Shearer that he has an uphill struggle to maintain Wolves in the Premier League.
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