As head coach Rob Edwards gets ready to depart Middlesbrough to take over at Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League, Match of the Day commentator Wayne Rooney acknowledges that he feels sorry for the team’s supporters.
After an outstanding start to the Championship season, Middlesbrough emerged as unexpected automatic promotion contenders, yet Edwards only joined the team in June, signing a three-year contract to replace Michael Carrick.
The 42-year-old was first linked to a return to Molineux after Vitor Pereira was fired earlier this month. However, Boro rejected the Midlands team’s initial offer on Thursday. The 42-year-old spent four years at Wolves as a player before serving as a coach and interim manager.
Edwards, however, was benched for Boro’s match against Birmingham City on Saturday after expressing his desire to meet with Wolves. The two clubs have since agreed on a compensation amount of almost £2 million, and his appointment is anticipated to be confirmed soon.
Assistant coach Adi Viveash guided Boro to a 2-1 victory over the Blues while Edwards was away, moving them back up to second place in the standings. They will now have two weeks during the international break to find a permanent replacement.
Brian Barry-Murphy, Tony Mowbray, Steven Gerrard, and Alex Neil are among the many names who have been connected to the Teesside team in recent days. However, the club’s top aim is thought to be Gary O’Neil, who turned down a return to Wolves last week before they focused on Edwards.
As Rob Edwards gets about to depart Middlesbrough for Wolves, Wayne Rooney responds.
Rooney acknowledged that he can see why Middlesbrough fans are upset about losing their head coach so early in his tenure, but he also asserted that it is unrealistic to expect too much loyalty from managers in the modern game, especially since clubs frequently don’t give them enough time. This comes as Edwards is getting close to joining Wolves.
Rooney responded, “I think they’ve got a point, he hasn’t been there for that long,” when asked on Match of the Day if Boro supporters are justified in feeling resentful of Edwards’ impending departure.
“I believe they have a case since Middlesbrough clearly brought him in after his experience at Luton.
However, teams are also firing managers after only two months, so loyalty may also be called into question in that regard.
“For him, it’s a good opportunity, but I can understand the Middlesbrough fans and why they would be upset with it.”
It makes sense that Middlesbrough is upset about the contentious Situation with Rob Edwards and the Wolves
Rooney is more knowledgeable than most about the harsh world of football management because he was fired by Birmingham City nearly two years ago after only 15 games in charge. He is correct when he points out that owners frequently do not have patience with managers, so it may be unfair for them to expect loyalty in return.
But throughout his brief time at Riverside Stadium, Edwards often expressed his love for Middlesbrough and urged supporters to stand together, so his departure is especially contentious in that regard and does not speak well of the soon-to-be Wolves boss.
The Boro supporters will be even more irate that Edwards is leaving a team that is winning the Championship for a team that is at the bottom of the Premier League and appears headed for relegation, but if the club makes the right choice for their next manager, his departure need not mean the end of their hopes of promotion.
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