Wolverhampton Wanderers have parted company with head coach Rob Edwards just seven months after appointing him, following the club’s relegation from the Premier League.
The decision comes as a major surprise after senior figures at Molineux had publicly expressed their support for Edwards and outlined plans for an immediate return to the top flight. His assistants, Harry Watling and Paul Trollope, have also left the club.
Portuguese coach Cesar Peixoto has emerged as a leading candidate to replace Edwards. Peixoto recently guided Gil Vicente to a sixth-place finish in the Primeira Liga and is reportedly under consideration by Wolves’ hierarchy.
The club had already begun preparations for life in the Championship. Experienced players Kieran Trippier and Raul Jimenez were brought in on free transfers, while midfielder Andre committed his future by signing a new contract. Edwards is understood to have played a significant role in convincing those players to stay or join the project.
Technical director Matt Jackson had recently spoken of complete unity within the club as Wolves planned their rebuild. He stressed that everyone was aligned behind the goal of securing an immediate return to the Premier League and acknowledged that significant changes would be required to achieve it.
Edwards arrived from Middlesbrough in November after leaving a promotion challenge in the Championship. At the time, Boro were second in the table and within touching distance of the leaders. However, his spell at Wolves proved difficult, with the team winning only five of 30 matches in all competitions and finishing bottom of the Premier League.
In recent weeks, Edwards openly admitted the scale of the task facing the club, describing Wolves as a side that was simply not good enough to compete at the required level. He had been working to reshape both the squad and the club’s culture as part of a long-term recovery plan.
The dismissal has reportedly surprised many staff members and even Edwards himself. Questions are now being asked about why the club chose to make the change after spending months planning for the Championship with the former Luton Town, Watford and Forest Green boss at the centre of those discussions.
Wolves paid close to £4 million to bring Edwards and Watling from Middlesbrough, and terminating their contracts is expected to add further costs. Appointing a replacement would require additional investment, particularly if Peixoto is selected.
Peixoto, a client of Jorge Mendes’ Gestifute agency, would arrive with limited experience outside Portugal. While his recent work at Gil Vicente has attracted attention, taking charge of a club aiming for immediate promotion from one of Europe’s most demanding second-tier divisions would represent a significant challenge.
For Wolves, the decision marks another major shift in direction at a time when stability appeared to be a priority. The club will now hope its latest gamble delivers the quick return to the Premier League that supporters expect.