Wolverhampton Wanderers have dismissed head coach Rob Edwards, seven months into his tenure, following the club's relegation from the Premier League.

The decision marks a sharp reversal from the club's recent public stance. Technical director Matt Jackson had declared only last month that the hierarchy was fully aligned behind Edwards as they worked to reshape the squad ahead of a Championship campaign.

"The plan and the goal is to get promoted straight away but we understand a lot of change has to take place," Jackson said. "If there isn't alignment here, we're dead in the water before we start."

A difficult seven months at Molineux

Edwards, 43, was appointed last November, leaving a promotion challenge with Middlesbrough to replace Vitor Pereira. His time in charge proved difficult — he won just five of his 30 matches across all competitions, losing 16, as Wolverhampton Wanderers finished bottom of the Premier League.

The former Forest Green, Watford, and Luton manager had publicly acknowledged the scale of the problems he inherited, speaking candidly at a Q&A; hosted by BBC WM.

"We're a collective and I'll take responsibility of course but it's not an effort thing — it's the fact that we're the worst team in the league. That's the bottom line," Edwards said. "I knew coming here in November, I might be sitting here in front of a lot of very angry people because this place is in a mess. I wanted to come here, I wanted to try and help."

Succession plans and squad rebuild

Cesar Peixoto, who led Gil Vicente to sixth place in Portugal's Primeira Liga this season, has emerged as a candidate for the role at Molineux.

Wolverhampton Wanderers had already begun preparing for life in the Championship before Edwards' dismissal. The club secured Kieran Trippier on a free transfer from Newcastle United — a deal Edwards was understood to have been central to — while Raul Jimenez also returned after his Fulham contract expired at the end of the month.