Edwards back to Molineux: bold move as Wolves gamble on survival

Wolves have rolled the dice. Rob Edwards is coming home, set to be unveiled early next week on a three-and-a-half-year deal, and tasked with the small matter of dragging the Premier League’s bottom club back from the brink. It’s brave, it’s bold, and it’s exactly the sort of call a club makes when time is running out.

Contract agreed and compensation settled

Middlesbrough stood Edwards down for their weekend fixture after granting permission for talks, and an agreement over compensation — just shy of £3m — has now been thrashed out. The plan is for Edwards to arrive on Monday morning and put pen to paper at Molineux, with Wolves framing this as a long-term appointment rather than a short-term sticking plaster. Discussions over his backroom team are ongoing.

The size of the task

No sugar-coating it: Wolves are bottom after an ugly 3-0 defeat at Chelsea and remain winless in the league. Two points from the first 11 matches tells its own story, and the gap to safety is already eight points. Confidence is brittle, goals are scarce, and the margins are killing them. Edwards inherits a squad that needs structure, belief and a set-piece plan that doesn’t induce palpitations every weekend.

Why Edwards, why now?

Because he gets the club. Edwards is no stranger to Molineux, having worn the shirt and coached on these training pitches. He understands the demands of the South Bank and the rhythm of the place. The international break gives him vital time on the grass — two weeks to install his principles, reset the press, tidy up defensive distances and give the forward line a clear blueprint. It’s the most logical window for a reset.

What must change first

Expect immediate pragmatism: a tighter block out of possession, a cleaner exit in midfield, and set-piece drills on repeat. He’ll want leaders on the pitch, energy between the lines and a ruthless edge in both boxes. If he can lower the error count and squeeze a couple of ugly results from the restart, momentum can flip very quickly. Survival campaigns are built on 1-0s in the rain, not pretty passing maps.

The Middlesbrough angle

It’s a wrench for Boro, who are chasing the top end of the Championship, but the Premier League call is powerful and the compensation eases the pain. Edwards leaves Teesside with credit and steps into the fiercest test of his managerial career. Walking away from a promotion push tells you he backs himself — and he’ll need every ounce of that self-belief in the weeks ahead.

For those tracking market moves and fan sentiment, check the latest odds via our best betting sites hub — where you’ll see just how the bookies view Wolves’ survival odds after this appointment. The numbers may look grim today, but a couple of results after the break can change everything.

Final whistle

Make no mistake, this is a high-wire act. But the club is backing a familiar face with a long contract and the keys to the training ground for a crucial fortnight. If Edwards can turn Molineux into a fortress again and coax a bit of edge from this group, the great escape is far from impossible. It starts Monday. Over to you, Rob.