Amid all the excitement and debate over Wolves’ manager appointment, there is a job to be done and Rob Edwards has taken a promising first step.
The confirmation of Edwards as Wolves manager was expected, but it has created a fair bit of buzz nonetheless.
Wolves fans are split on Edwards, with many finding it hard to be positive after a miserable few months.
But he’s the man entrusted to save Wolves’ season, and he now has to put full focus on working with his new squad over the international break, with the help of a new coach.
Paul Trollope to follow Rob Edwards to Wolves
As expected, Middlesbrough assistant coach Harry Watling will join Edwards in the dugout at Molineux. Joleon Lescott was linked with a Wolves return, but that doesn’t look like happening.
The club have said more backroom additions will be announced shortly, and the first is Southampton assistant coach Paul Trollope.
A former player, Trollope has troves of experience in coaching, having recently spent time at Brighton, Nottingham Forest and Luton Town (with Edwards) — and has most recently worked under Will Still with the Saints.
As John Percy reveals in The Telegraph, Trollope is set to take his place on the bench for Wolves as they bid for survival.
He writes: “Edwards is expected to appoint the vastly experienced coach Paul Trollope, currently at Southampton, to his backroom staff. Links to Joleon Lescott, another former Wolves player, have been dismissed. Harry Watling, a former Rangers coach, will join from Middlesbrough.”
At 42, Edwards hasn’t been in the game long enough to know it all, and his decision to bring in someone with two decades of experience feels like a smart move, and a sign that he’s willing to listen to different voices.
Trollope is a promotion specialist, but…
If you look at his track record, Trollope looks like the man you turn to to gain promotion from the Championship. He oversaw Luton and Brighton’s returns to the top flight.
That may be the line of thinking Wolves are following. Gary Neville thinks Edwards was picked with relegation in mind.
But Trollope also helped Brighton stay in the Premier League, where they have remained ever since.
It’s a mammoth task facing Wolves to stay up this season, but the idea that the club are resigned to relegation is farcical. It’s still only November, a month earlier than when Pereira joined last season and mounted a comeback.