The hours are ticking down in terms of Rob Edwards becoming Wolves’ new manager in an early switch to change their Premier League fate – but Gary Neville believes there’s another reason why the Middlesbrough boss has been sought-after.
Vitor Pereira was sacked by Wolves last week after a 10-game winless streak to start the new campaign, with a tepid 3-0 loss at Fulham being the final straw in terms of the Portuguese gaffer’s reign at Molineux.
That saw James Collins act as caretaker manager for the trip to Chelsea, though a second 3-0 loss in west London in the space of a week means Wolves remain on just two points from 11 games in the Premier League table.
Wins for Nottingham Forest and West Ham have only furthered the relegation battle, with 17th-placed Burnley currently sat on 10 points, seeing Wolves already languish eight adrift. And Gary Neville believes that Jeff Shi might be bringing Rob Edwards in to prepare for a season in the Championship next time out.
Gary Neville thinks Wolves are thinking ahead to the Championship by bringing in Rob Edwards
Wolves have endured one of the worst starts to a league campaign in Premier League history under Vitor Pereira, and with no games won so far alongside a tricky run of fixtures, it will be a huge effort for Rob Edwards to keep the Old Gold in the Premier League.
And with that in mind, Neville believes that the former centre-back, who made 111 appearances for the club between 2004 and 2008, is being brought in as a result of his Championship expertise – with the club’s board making the most of Edwards’ ties to the club to bring him in for that eventuality now.
Neville said on Sky Sports: “No team have ever stayed up from the position that Wolves are currently in. It’s an awful start to the season.
“They look well short. Are they planning ahead already for what could be an inevitable relegation?
“I know they’ll say all the right things, but it’s a big job for him to go there and try to turn that around.
“Maybe they’re preparing for what could be the Championship next year. You get parachute payments, and they want someone who knows the Championship to be able to take them back up.
“Rob Edwards will have a free hit in terms of trying to turn it around, but he’ll also have to start preparing for what could be an inevitable relegation.
“There’s a long way to go, but it doesn’t look good.”
Edwards has been one of the best second-tier gaffers over the past half-decade and his record in the Championship is undeniable.
Rob Edwards has already proven his Championship credentials in abundance
There is no doubting that Edwards is a first-class manager in the Championship.
Edwards had his first Championship bow in 2022, when Watford appointed him from Forest Green Rovers – but despite three wins, five draws and just two losses in the Championship, he was sacked after 10 games despite the Hornets sitting in 10th.
However, it was his time at Luton Town where he made his name. Replacing Southampton-bound Nathan Jones with the Hatters in 10th, Edwards only lost three games throughout the campaign, including a 14-game unbeaten run to see the campaign out.
A play-off semi-final aggregate win over Sunderland dragged the Hatters to Wembley, where they beat Coventry City on penalties to secure a top-flight return after a 31-year hiatus.
Although their minimal budget meant Luton went down, they were outside of the relegation zone as late as mid-March.
With Middlesbrough now sat in the automatic promotion spots, it’s clear that Edwards has Championship credentials and that may well be part of their thinking for next season.
Wolves will be hoping he can do similar, with Edwards’ appointment expected in the coming days.