What next for Rob Edwards after Wolves sacking?

Rob Edwards' sacking at Wolves has come as a surprise for many, and while the immediate attention will be on his replacement in the dugout at Molineux, we investigate what could be on the horizon for the former Wales international.

Despite his failure to avoid relegation from the Premier League last season, the general consensus in the football community was that Edwards had done relatively well in his seven-month stint at Wolves, especially given the situation he had walked into.

Wolves hadn't won a league game and were already considered to be adrift by the time the 43-year-old arrived at Molineux. Edwards would go on to win five of his 30 matches in charge of the club, earning 0.80 PPG.

There were rumblings of discontent among the Wolves faithful in the closing weeks of the season. Fans voiced their discontent at Edwards following Wolves' loss at home to Sunderland, and further eyebrows were later raised when Edwards labelled their Premier League campaign as 'embarrassing', commenting that some of his squad would be sold in the summer.

Despite the rocky end to the season, Edwards appeared to be heavily involved with transfer proceedings this summer, with new signing Kieran Trippier waxing lyrical about the head coach in an interview with the club following his signing:

I had a good chat with the manager and what struck me first was how passionate he was. I felt that chemistry straight away with the manager.

Kieran Trippier - The Official Wolves Podcast.

Reports indicate that Edwards and his coaching staff are said to be shocked and angered about their abrupt departure from the club, and the manner in which the news was communicated.

Despite any protestations, Edwards is out at Molineux and Cesar Peixoto is set to succeed him in the Molineux dugout.

So what next for a young manager that already has two EFL promotions and two Premier League relegations on his CV?

Waiting for the Championship managerial merry-go-round?

The obvious next step for Edwards will be to sit back, assess and await the next opportunity.

The 43-year-old already has a coveted Championship promotion on his managerial CV, something that holds appeal for a lot of owners seeking the promised land of the Premier League.

Demonstrating an ability to guide a club through a Championship campaign and earn promotion, as he did with Luton in the 2022/23 season, will mean Edwards will likely come under immediate consideration when the first inevitable managerial casualty is announced early next season.

Watford are one of Edwards' former clubs, and despite the Hornets being in advanced talks with Italian coach Alessio Dionisi, you can never be too sure on what the future holds at Vicarage Road.

Both Javi Gracia and Quique Sánchez Flores returned for seconds stints at the club, could Edwards do the same if Dionisi, like so many before him, is shown the early exit door?

Away from Vicarage Road, there are likely to be several potential suitors for Edwards signature in the coming months once sacking season is underway.

A crack at international management?

There are no obvious managerial vacancies in the international game at the time being, but that picture could easily change in the coming months, especially when it comes to the Welsh national team.

Craig Bellamy is a man in demand. The current Wales boss has been continually linked with moves to Celtic and Burnley to name just two clubs in the last month alone, and it is inevitable that more links will develop once club vacancies materialise in the near future.

If Bellamy is tempted away from Wales by an ambitious club, Edwards could easily be on the FAW's shortlist to replace him.

Edwards played 15 times for Wales between 2003 and 2006 and, like many young coaches, he undertook coaching courses with the Welsh FA, meaning he could be on the radar if a a position did become available.