Former Crystal Palace owner Simon Jordan has unleashed a scathing criticism of Rob Edwards after the manager's controversial decision to leave Middlesbrough for Wolverhampton Wanderers, branding his emotional farewell as fundamentally dishonest.
Edwards' Emotional Departure from Middlesbrough
The Telford-born coach, who only joined Middlesbrough in June 2025 following a difficult end to his tenure at Luton Town, has sparked media controversy by swapping a promising promotion push in the Championship for the challenge of maintaining Wolves' eight-season Premier League status.
Edwards, who previously played and coached at Wolves, had started the season in excellent fashion at Middlesbrough after succeeding Michael Carrick. His departure after just five months drew criticism for abandoning the club that gave him an opportunity under chairman Steve Gibson.
In response to the backlash, Edwards shared a heartfelt Instagram message to Middlesbrough supporters, describing it as "one of the toughest decisions of my career." He explained that Wolves represented a special club where he grew as both player and coach, and where his family still calls home.
Jordan's Explosive TalkSPORT Rant
Simon Jordan didn't hold back during a heated appearance on talkSPORT, delivering a brutal assessment of Edwards' character and career move. The outspoken pundit even expressed hope that Edwards and Wolves would face relegation for how the situation unfolded.
"What's he going to turn around and say? He's let everybody down, undoubtedly he's let everybody down," Jordan stated bluntly. He completely dismissed Edwards' claim that he would only have left Middlesbrough for Wolves, arguing that the manager would have equally jumped at opportunities from clubs like Manchester United or Aston Villa.
Jordan particularly targeted what he perceived as hypocrisy in Edwards' previous comments about Middlesbrough being a "family unit" that required full commitment. "What happened to all that then? It was a pack of lies," Jordan declared, questioning the manager's integrity and honesty.
Questions About Edwards' Credentials and Future
The former Crystal Palace owner raised serious doubts about Edwards' qualifications for the Wolves job, pointing to his record of relegating Luton from the Premier League and subsequent Championship performance.
"That gives you the idea that he's worth a three-and-a-half year contract?" Jordan questioned incredulously. He went further to challenge whether Edwards would survive at Molineux if results turned sour, asking: "If he's not successful and Wolves go down this season, and they start next season poorly, would you like to place a bet that Rob Edwards will still be in his job?"
Despite his harsh criticism, Jordan acknowledged the harsh reality of modern football, stating that "often in life, people lacking integrity prosper." However, he maintained that this shouldn't excuse what he sees as a fundamental lack of substance in Edwards' character and decision-making.
The explosive comments have ignited debate within football circles about managerial loyalty and the ethics of mid-season moves, particularly when managers have recently committed to rebuilding projects at other clubs.
