Rob Edwards on the brink of Wolves return as Boro reluctantly open the door

Rob Edwards is poised to swap the Riverside for Molineux after Middlesbrough gave the Welshman permission to speak to Wolves. He won’t be in the Boro dugout against Birmingham as he finalises the move, and with a club-to-club agreement already struck, personal terms are expected to be a formality.

Why Wolves are rolling the dice

Vitor Pereira paid the price for a miserable start last weekend, binned after a 3-0 beating at Fulham. That leaves Wolves scrabbling for answers and about to install their sixth permanent manager since 2021. It’s a mess of their own making, but in Edwards they’re banking on clarity, energy and a bit of Molineux know‑how to steady a listing ship.

The league table is ugly: bottom, just two points from a possible 30 and already eight adrift of safety. They’re winless in ten and badly need a reset. Today’s trip to Stamford Bridge will be handled by Under-21s boss James Collins and Under-18s chief Richard Walker while the final paperwork on Edwards’ return is tied up.

Boro’s frustration is real

Middlesbrough confirmed they’ve agreed terms with Wolves and, understandably, admitted disappointment that Edwards wanted to talk. It stings doubly when you consider the context: he only arrived in July on a three-year deal, and Boro have been sharp under him — just two defeats in their first 14 Championship matches. They sit third, five points off leaders Coventry City, which makes his departure a proper gut punch on Teesside.

Edwards and Molineux: unfinished business

There’s history here. Edwards wore old gold for four years, racking up 111 appearances between 2002 and 2006. After hanging up his boots, his first steps into coaching came at Wolves in 2013 with the Under-18s, then the Under-23s, and he even had a brief caretaker stint when Walter Zenga was sacked in October 2016. At 42, he’s no stranger to the place or its demands, and that familiarity is a big part of the appeal.

What Wolves need from him — fast

Strip it back and the job is simple to describe, brutal to execute: tighten up the back line, add purpose in possession, and reconnect a restless fanbase. This group lacks confidence more than talent. If Edwards can impose structure early and coax a few senior pros back to their best, Wolves have half a chance of turning the tide before winter bites.

If you’re weighing up the odds on a great escape, take a look at our best betting sites recommendations — Wolves are rock bottom and winless in ten, so keep a cool head and back your judgement, not the noise.

What happens next

Final paperwork is all that’s left, with confirmation expected swiftly. Collins and Walker will marshal the side at Chelsea today, but the Edwards era is effectively underway. For Wolves, it’s a gamble rooted in familiarity. For Boro, it’s a bitter pill. For Edwards, it’s the chance to turn affection into authority and prove he’s the right man to rouse a sleeping giant.