What Wolves boss Rob Edwards has said about Middlesbrough fan reaction to shock exit | OneFootball

Rob Edwards has claimed that he didn't see the reaction from Middlesbrough fans after he left to become Wolves manager

The 42-year-old was appointed as Boro boss during the summer following the departure of Michael Carrick and started life at the Riverside on the front foot, guiding his team towards the top of the Championship.

Middlesbrough picked up points in 13 of their first 15 matches to sit second in the table at the November international break stage, five points behind league leaders Coventry City.

However, when Premier League side Wolves, who were already eight points adrift from safety, were looking for a new manager, Edwards decided to depart the North East and subsequently leave behind all the good work he had done with Boro.

This infuriated Middlesbrough supporters, due to the fact that they had given Edwards a route back into management after he had been sacked by Luton Town, only for him not to repay that loyalty when the time came.

Rob Edwards “not aware” of Middlesbrough reaction to his departure

This condemnation of the Wolves boss spread further than just Middlesbrough’s fanbase, with talkSPORT host Simon Jordan particular scathing in his criticism of Edwards, labelling him a “toe rag”.

When put in front of the media ahead of his first Premier League match in charge of the Black Country outfit, Edwards claimed that he hadn’t seen any of the reaction from Boro supporters following his decision and wasn’t aware of what it was like.

“I didn’t see any of the reaction,” admitted Edwards to Sky Sports. “I surround myself in a bubble and don’t look at anything. I don’t listen to a thing, so I’m not aware of anything.

“I don’t ever want to know.I was in a great job at Middlesbrough, we did well, but this was something I’ve wanted to do for a long time and the opportunity might never come again.”

Boro won four of their first five Championship matches this season under Edwards and were the early leaders before Coventry City fully hit their stride.

Kim Hellberg has all but been confirmed as their new boss, as Middlesbrough swooped in at the last minute to snatch the Swede out of Swansea City’s grasp.

Having watched Edwards leave in the midst of a promotion battle to take over a team seemingly destined for a challenging scrap to avoid relegation, Middlesbrough fans were already frustrated with their former boss.

However, that ill feeling may have heightened even further after his most recent comments.

If the 42-year-old had acknowledged what the Boro fans had felt, expressed his deepest apologies and complimented their support, it could’ve helped heal some of the harm done when he departed.

Instead, opting to stay away from the topic entirely by saying he wasn’t aware of the reaction may not have impressed the Riverside faithful and could potentially have made his reputation in Middlesbrough even worse.