The life of a Wolves head coach can be tumultuous, and the last two men before Rob Edwards painted that picture vividly.
Jeff Shi has a history of making the wrong decisions when it comes to the man in the dugout. He awarded both Gary O’Neil and Vitor Pereira new deals just months before they were dismissed.
The club’s executive chairman will be hoping to avoid making the same error three times in a row, but fans will have little hope that is the case.
Supporters have grown frustrated with both Shi and Fosun, resulting in a protest in the first 15 minutes of their game against Manchester United this season.
Shi simply brushed off the protests, insisting he hopes fans can become ‘more happy’.
Rob Edwards is now the man who can provide that happiness, but that will only arrive if results start to come in.
But Jeff Shi is not solely focused on that, as explained in his answer as to how long he expects Edwards to remain at Molineux.
What are your honest thoughts on Jeff Shi after his claim about relegation for Wolves? Let us know below!
Yes. He actually said this…
Jeff Shi expects Rob Edwards to remain at Wolves for three years
Rob Edwards is a long-term plan for Jeff Shi, and that is evident in his response to how long he will remain as Wolves head coach.
The chairman is not only looking at the results that Edwards brings in but also the surrounding atmosphere and work relationships he provides.
Jeff Shi thinks that the leadership at Wolves is the best in ten years, and that includes the arrival of the new head coach.
Shi has spoken out about Edwards’ future and said (via BBC West Midlands), “If you really want me to give you a very concrete answer, I can say at least three years. At least, I think. I hope so. I hope so because no one can guarantee 100%, but I can say 95% for at least three years.
“So it’s a long-term project with Rob, and also it’s not really about results, you know; it’s also about how we work together. And sometimes some fans may not understand, and it’s also important to get happiness and chemistry from daily work, you know, so I think that’s important.”
How long do you think Rob Edwards will remain in charge at Molineux?
Jeff Shi is confident it will be quite a while.
However, Edwards will know that his job security is not as safe as it seems.
Just months ago, Shi stated, “Now is a time for stability,” as he handed Vitor Pereira a new deal. The stability he mentioned was short-lived, and just 45 days later, the Portuguese head coach was sacked.
If things do turn sour, and the Old Gold struggle to gain promotion next season, in what is likely a campaign in the second tier, then Shi has previous for pulling the trigger, despite his confidence right now.
Matt Jackson says Rob Edwards is sharing his experiences with Wolves
Alongside Jeff Shi on that interview was Matt Jackson, who has recently been promoted to technical director.
Jackson has acknowledged the likely relegation facing Wolves, and he is a believer that Edwards can be the man to bring the Old Gold straight back up.
He stated, “Of course, we consider Rob to be the right man for a potential promotion charge from the Championship. It would have been irresponsible not to, as he proved that with Middlesbrough.
“He’s obviously got Luton up, and he’s understood the transition of a club going down in challenging circumstances. We’re very aware of what’s happened to Luton since their relegation, and he’s learned from that and has expressed those learnings to us as well.”
However, while Jackson says the club know that going down brings challenging circumstances, Jeff Shi has played down the impact relegation has on Wolves.
Receive a digest of our best Wolverhampton Wanderers content each week direct to your mailbox
Join the fan conversation
