Rob Edwards to leave Middlesbrough for Wolves, £2m compensation agreed
Middlesbrough may have celebrated a 2-1 win over Birmingham City on Saturday, but the result was overshadowed by growing reports that manager Rob Edwards is set to leave the club for Wolverhampton Wanderers. The Premier League side is looking to fill the managerial vacancy left by the sacking of Vitor Pereira.
Despite Boro climbing back into the second automatic promotion spot following the victory — aided by Stoke City’s 1-0 defeat to Coventry — the club now faces the challenge of replacing Edwards as they push for a return to the top flight after more than eight years.
According to David Ornstein of The Athletic, Edwards’ departure is imminent, with Wolves expected to confirm his appointment early next week. Middlesbrough have agreed a £2 million compensation package to allow the Premier League club to secure his services.
Edwards is expected to sign a three-and-a-half-year contract at Molineux, with Wolves ready to back him in the January transfer window as he attempts to rescue a struggling side currently at the bottom of the Premier League, with just two points from their first eleven matches and eight points adrift of safety.
While £2 million is far from insignificant, some Middlesbrough supporters may feel it is a modest sum given the potential impact of losing their manager mid-season, especially with the lucrative rewards of promotion at stake. The deal reflects the power imbalance between Premier League clubs and Championship sides, as Wolves were in a strong negotiating position despite Edwards having been with Boro for less than five months.
Edwards’ move is also influenced by personal ties to Wolves. The 42-year-old spent four years at Molineux as a player, making over 100 appearances between 2004 and 2008, and has a history within the club’s coaching setup. That connection, combined with the opportunity to manage in the Premier League, appears to have convinced him to swap Teesside for the Black Country.
While Middlesbrough had hoped to retain a manager who had delivered a strong start to the season, Wolves’ Premier League status and Edwards’ ambition made the move difficult to resist — and underscores why Championship clubs often struggle to hold onto talented managers.
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