The Daily Mail has revealed more details about Wolverhampton Wanderers' sudden dismissal of manager Rob Edwards. Despite the club's repeated claims of reducing dependence on agent Jorge Mendes, whenever the team faced difficulties, the board always called on "Uncle Jorge". Additionally, Edwards had just facilitated Raul Jimenez's return and signed high-calibre players like Kieran Trippier. External speculation suggests the decision to replace the manager was finalised at the end of last season, merely awaiting a suitable replacement. Cézar Peixoto, recommended by Mendes, is a Portuguese manager with no proven track record in English football. Squad members are deeply unhappy with this abrupt managerial change, and Wolves' inhumane dismissal methods have also damaged the club's reputation.

Whenever Wolves change manager or restructure their backroom staff, external commentary always echoes the same refrain: the club will no longer depend excessively on Jorge Mendes.

Yet ten years after Chinese conglomerate Fosun International acquired the club, Wolves appear to have returned to square one: the team dropped to the Championship, a British manager was dismissed and replaced by a Portuguese one untested in English football, and Mendes remains instrumental behind the scenes.

According to an exclusive Daily Mail report, Guo Guangchang, Fosun's chairman, personally orchestrated this managerial change. Last December, the inexperienced Shi Zhixiang replaced Shi John as club president. Due to Shi Zhixiang's lack of football industry experience, Guo Guangchang has been deeply involved in all team matters. Last season, Rob Edwards managed Wolves through 27 Premier League matches, losing 15, with results falling short of expectations. Guo Guangchang ultimately decided to sack him.

Rob Edwards' fate is unfortunate. He had championed Raul Jimenez's return, completed Kieran Trippier's transfer, and extended Brazilian midfielder André's contract. On Wednesday afternoon, the club's official channels were still highlighting his interview discussing Jimenez's arrival. Yet within 24 hours, he lost his job; even Thursday morning, Wolves' official website still carried his comments about Jimenez.

The Daily Mail understands that Rob Edwards heard rumours of his imminent departure Wednesday evening. His agent immediately contacted Wolves to verify, but only Thursday morning did a phone call officially inform him he was being sacked after just seven months in charge.

Despite orchestrating several significant signings this summer, Rob Edwards was dismissed without ceremony by Wolves.

The timing of this managerial change is peculiar. Sources suggest Guo Guangchang had already decided to replace Rob Edwards at season's end, with Wolves simply awaiting a suitable manager. Peixoto had previously been linked with Benfica, and some within Wolves believed he missed that opportunity only because Marco Silva was more prominent. However, Portuguese sources offered a different perspective: perhaps Peixoto's desire to join Benfica wasn't as strong as Benfica's desire to hire him.

Regardless, whenever the team faces difficulties, Wolves' hierarchy invariably resorts to their connections and calls "Uncle Jorge".

The full details of Peixoto's recruitment remain undisclosed, but a reasonable assumption is that Guo Guangchang lost patience with the current coaching staff and subsequently contacted Mendes.

Mendes is among football's most influential agents, representing renowned clients including Mourinho, Ronaldo, and Emery. He can always recommend suitable candidates, and this time he recommended Peixoto.

Mendes' associate Valdir Cardoso has long been based in the UK. During Wolves' golden period from 2017 to 2020, he maintained close personal relationships with many squad members, occasionally staying at their homes. Cardoso will continue playing an important role in the club's subsequent operations.

This time, however, which calibre of players will Mendes bring? Will they be the capable veterans from the Nuno era—Neves, João Moutinho, and Raul Jimenez—who helped Wolves climb from the Championship to the Premier League in just two years and reach the Europa League quarter-finals? Or will they be signings like Fabio Silva and Fer Lopez, who failed to adapt? These post-2020 recruits significantly contributed to the team's continued decline. Mendes was also involved in last summer's disastrous transfer window: Wolves signed no Premier League-experienced players, Vítor Pereira was sacked that autumn, and Rob Edwards took emergency charge.

This managerial change cannot fail. All the club's plans revolve around immediate Premier League return, which is why Wolves retained André and signed high-earning players like Trippier and Jimenez. The team aims to fully utilise parachute payments to secure promotion within one season.

Cézar Peixoto's priority upon taking charge is calming players shocked by the sudden change. Several squad members are dissatisfied with how the club handled the situation.

Further personnel changes may follow, but Wolves have publicly denied rumours that Technical Director Matt Jackson would depart after Rob Edwards.

In mid-May, the Daily Mail learned that Rob Edwards' assistant Rui Silva was initially considered as a successor. This ultimately didn't materialise, but it suffices to show that plotting was already underway behind the scenes before season's end. Rui Silva worked at Wolves during the Nuno era and remained after Edwards' appointment. Currently, it's unclear whether he'll remain to assist Peixoto or seek other opportunities.

Wolves frequently make self-destructive decisions, leaving supporters helpless. For years, fans have grown weary of the team's continuously declining on-field performance and the club's lack of operational transparency. In May, the club organised a fan forum with Shi Zhixiang, Rob Edwards, and Jackson present, attempting to reconnect with supporters.

Then Trippier arrived and Jimenez returned—the latter the most beloved Wolves player since Steve Bull. For the first time since Pereira's dramatic escape from relegation in spring 2025, supporters regained enthusiasm for the team.

Fans had originally anticipated building a new squad around the two signings, Jimenez and Trippier, alongside André and rising prospect Matheus Mané, full of anticipation. At a home match last season, Rob Edwards was even booed by supporters, yet fans were gradually beginning to accept the manager.

Even accepting Wolves' official statement that the decision to replace Rob Edwards had already been made and they were merely awaiting a suitable manager, this manager should still have been treated with greater dignity.

If they intended to sack him eventually, why allow him to enthusiastically discuss new signings and prospects for the new season? This behaviour appears petty and undignified. Regardless of his managerial ability, Rob Edwards is an honest and dedicated individual who deserved equal respect.

However, Fosun International's rise to a global enterprise has never depended on excessive sentimentality. This decisive managerial change vaguely resembles the resolute dismissal of Paul Lambert in 2017 and the appointment of Nuno. That personnel adjustment was hugely successful, and hopes are this one will prove equally effective.

Traduzido por IA.