Rob Edwards admits he cannot wait to step out at Molineux as permanent Wolves head coach for the first time this weekend but understands the enormity of the task he has on his hands to help the side turn their season around.
After returning to the club for a fourth time, the former Old Gold defender is to take his place in the dugout against Crystal Palace on Saturday and ahead of the match, displayed his excitement of taking on a job he wanted since he first came back 11 years ago to take charge of the under-18s.
But following a week on the training ground Edwards is under no illusions of the work which faces him and his players if they are to secure a ninth successive Premier League campaign.
On preparing for his first game in charge
“It feels amazing to be back. I’m really proud. I’m genuinely proud and I’ve told all the staff and players that. I won’t lie about it, it has been an aim of mine since I first got the under-18’s job here 11 years ago. It’s something that I’ve always wanted to do.
“But this was something that I’ve wanted to do for a long, long time, and I didn’t know if this job would ever come up again for me. The opportunity might never, ever come up for me to be the head coach of this club. I didn’t want to look back in 10, 15, 20 years, and think I turned down a chance to manage Wolves in the Premier League.
“I didn’t want to regret that, so here I am. I know the size and the scale of the task, but I’m really enthused by it, I’m excited by it, and this week has been really enjoyable. But now the games start, so let’s see.”
On stepping out at Molineux as head coach
“I can’t wait. It’s going to be a really proud moment for me and my family. My family and close people to me know how much this job means to me. They know why I’ve made this decision, they understand it and get it as well.
“People who don’t know me might have their own opinions, and they can look at it however they want, but it will mean the world to me. I’m really looking forwards to tomorrow, and what I really hope is that we can put on a really good performance against a really good team, probably one of the best coaches in the world at the moment, in terms of what Oliver is doing, a brilliantly organised group of players that are very talented as well.
“It’s a huge challenge going into tomorrow, but we’re looking forwards to it and it’ll be a great moment.”
On the threats posed by Palace
“As well as all of their threats, they’ve just got a very good understanding in the way they play. You know exactly what they’re going to do, but stopping it is another thing. They’re very well coached, really well organised, and they’ve got very good athletes and technical players in every position.
“You look all over the pitch, they’re strong, so we’ve made the players aware of that, but we’ve tried to have a real focus on us and what we do tomorrow. We have to be aware of every aspect of the game, they can take control, play with width, but they like to play with that front three, really tight, and they’ve got really good combinations and a mixture of presence, quality, speed and technical bits on that top line.
“We’ll have to defend really well as a unit, as a team, and we’ve got to value defending, but also in the right moments, and when we can, we’ve got to make sure we’re brave and we take risks and put them under pressure as well.”
On his first week with the players
“We want some clarity, we want to get to know the players. We’ve been trying to get our messages across with as much clarity as possible, while also trying to learn the lads as quickly as we can. There’s a lot of individual conversations, a lot of time spent with the lads, and some really good work on the training pitch as well.
“We’ve identified a number of things that we want to try and improve and put our stamp on and I want our team to play with real intensity and show a lot of fight and spirit in the short-term. But a week working with the players, and not having all of them until today, is probably a lot to ask to be able to see huge changes and a team that’s completely evolved from the last time out. But what we have gone after is intensity, organisation and things that are in our control, are in the players’ control, and what they can go and deliver when they go over that white line.
“I’ve got to try and find a way to eek every single bit out of every one of them, and I’m going to try and appeal to their hearts as well as their heads. We’ve got a passionate group of players and we’re working with a lot of lads who aren’t from this country, and I’ve got to try and tap into that. I want us to play with some passion and spirit and heart, and I think these lads can be at their best when they do that. Of course, we’ve got to be organised, but we’ve got to tap into people, support people, and bring out the best in them.
“There’s an element of a clean slate and that might help some of the players if we can try and free people up, clear their minds a little bit, and show belief and confidence in them. A new voice and doing some new things can help, but the only way we’re going to improve our results and performances is by working our way out of it. It’s by showing real commitment and sticking to the plan. If we don’t do those things, if we don’t sprint back, if we don’t win duals, if we don’t block crosses, if we don’t win tackles, if you don’t do the basics, then we’re not going to have a chance.”
On belief in the squad
“Every job comes with its challenges so we know the scale of the task, I’m under no illusions to that, but I’m really excited by the challenge as well and I’ve got full belief in the group. They are up for it and they are ready for the challenges themselves. When I’ve spoken to them, every one of them has been enthused by what we want them to do, and what we want to try and bring, which has given me a lot of belief and confidence as well.
“But these are things that no-one else is going to give us. We need to earn it by hard work, and earning it with good performances, good results, and hopefully we can build that belief and confidence. But the conversations that I’ve had with the players and the work I’ve seen on the grass has given me that belief.
“There are high expectations here, but we are where we are, and I just want to try and do the club proud. All I know is that we’re going to give absolutely everything. The staff and everyone connected to us needs to give it everything they’ve got and leave it all out there. The fans need to see the players leaving it all out there. We know it’s a huge challenge and we believe we can do something special, but it’s going to take unbelievable hard work, commitment and everyone pulling the same direction.”
— Wolves (@Wolves) November 19, 2025
On aiming to be at Wolves for a long time
“I hope so. That’s what I spoke about with Jeff, and we talked about that word; ‘reset’, and this is a moment to try and do that. Obviously, we’ve got a job on our hands this season, and that is my focus right now, but I do want to be here for the long-term.
“However, I’m well aware to do that, you need results, and we need to be showing people that we’re doing really good work. All our focus right now is doing a really good job and making sure we’re a Premier League club next season.
“There’s a lot of realism in all those conversations because we all know where we’re at right now. We can’t hide away and bury our heads in the sand, and then all of a sudden get caught out if things don’t go the way we want. We’ve got to be prepared for all scenarios.”
