Rob Edwards to Wolves: ‘Top target named in serious Gary O’Neil sack update’
Rob Edwards is currently an “outsider” to replace Gary O’Neil as Wolves manager, The Telegraph has reported.
The 41-year-old’s future at Molineux is said to be in “serious doubt” after just three wins in the last 24 league games.
That means the club are now 19th in the Premier League table, three points from safety after a 4-0 thrashing by fellow struggles Everton on Wednesday (4 December).
Football Insider reported Edwards had been close to getting the Wolves job when former manager Julen Lopetegui left in August 2023, before O’Neil was kept on permanently to replace the Spaniard.
Since then though, his Hatters side have slipped into a relegation battle in the Championship, meaning while there has been support for him at Molineux as a former player and academy coach, he no longer appears to be at the front of the queue for the job.
Former Brighton and Chelsea boss Graham Potter is instead said to be emerging as the club’s first choice for the role.
They may have some competition for his services though. Football Insider understands the Englishman is in pole position to takeover from the beleaguered Lopetegui at West Ham, and that he has held advanced talks over taking charge at The London Stadium.
Somewhat, ironically, Wolves are set to face the Hammers at The London Stadium on Monday night (9 December).
No surprise Luton Town boss not front of the queue for Wolves job
Football Insider Opinion
It makes sense that Edwards no longer appears to be the top choice to take over from O’Neil at Molineux.
At the time of Lopetegui’s departure from Wolves in 2023 Edwards himself had just guided Luton to a remarkable promotion to the Premier League.
His stock at that point would have been incredibly high, meaning the interest in appointing him at that time was very understandable.
Since then though, the Hatters have been relegated from the top-flight and are now fighting to avoid the drop from the Championship, having been unable to recover from last season’s relegation.
It would therefore be a risk to appoint Edwards with the hope he can get a rise out of a struggling Premier League team, given he has been unable to do that in the Championship with Luton.
With that in mind, it does make sense for Wolves to look at other options to take over from O’Neil, given the likes of Potter do have more experience of getting something out of a side in the top-flight.
But the ex-Chelsea and Brighton manager looks like he might be off the market before long.
In other news, Wolves have taken steps to ward off Man United transfer interest.
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