Wolverhampton Wanderers have secured their new leader, agreeing a deal to appoint Rob Edwards as head coach following the dismissal of Vítor Pereira.
The former Wolves player and coach has committed to a three-and-a-half-year contract at Molineux and could be officially unveiled as early as Monday after the club paid approximately £3 million in compensation to release him from his Middlesbrough contract.
From Boro Resistance to Wolves Return
Middlesbrough initially rejected Wolves' approach for their manager, but after negotiations on Friday, the Championship club accepted they would be unable to retain Edwards. The 40-year-old had only joined Boro in June, signing a three-year deal at the Riverside Stadium.
Wolves' pursuit of Edwards demonstrates their long-standing admiration for the coach, who previously served as a player, coach, and even had a brief spell as caretaker manager in 2016, shortly after Chinese owners Fosun took control of the club.
Failed Talks and Fan Backlash
The appointment concludes a turbulent search for Pereira's successor. Wolves had held advanced discussions with another former coach, Gary O'Neil, but he withdrew from negotiations last Monday.
O'Neil's potential return faced significant supporter backlash, with fans also expressing concerns about the club's internal structure, leading to the collapse of those talks.
Meanwhile, the team suffered a 3-0 defeat at Chelsea on Saturday under the temporary guidance of under-21s coach James Collins and under-18s coach Richard Walker.
Relegation Battle Ahead
Edwards inherits a squad in crisis, with Wolves having collected just two points from their opening 10 matches this season, resulting in Pereira's dismissal. The club's hierarchy hopes Edwards' arrival will galvanise the team as they face a fierce battle against Premier League relegation.
His return to Molineux represents a homecoming for the former defender, who now faces the formidable task of reviving the fortunes of his former club.
