Edwards could potentially benefit from a move to Portman Road, but it may not be a risk worth taking.
He took his first permanent job in the EFL at Forest Green Rovers before the start of the 2021/22 season, and was able to guide them to promotion from League Two at the end of his first campaign there.
FGR were dominant for a decent chunk of that campaign – and they finished as champions in the end despite having a wobble during the latter stages of the term.
His achievements in Gloucestershire earned him a move to Watford, but he was criticised by Rovers’ owner Dale Vince for the way he handled his departure, which may have tainted his reputation slightly.
However, he had to get over this, and he would have been reassured by the Hornets CEO Scott Duxberry’s comments.
Before the 2022/23 campaign started, Duxberry stated that the Hornets would be backing Edwards “come hell or high water”, a surprising comment considering how high the club’s managerial turnover rate had been in the years that preceded his appointment.
But the 41-year-old was dismissed after just 10 league games in charge, being sacked in September 2022.
| Rob Edwards’ time at Watford (All competitions) | |
|---|---|
| Games | 11 |
| Wins | 3 |
| Draws | 5 |
| Losses | 3 |
He may not have made the best start to life at Vicarage Road, but it was a harsh decision to sack him and many were critical of the Hornets board’s decision to relieve the young coach of his duties.
Thankfully for him, he was given a second chance to shine in the Championship by Watford’s arch-rivals Luton Town, with the former defender coming in to replace Nathan Jones less than two months after his departure from the Hertfordshire side.
He was able to build on Jones’ excellent work and took the Hatters to the Premier League last year, via the play-offs.
But they have come back down after failing to get enough points on the board, despite making a solid fist of staying up against the odds, outperforming both Burnley and Sheffield United on the whole.
Rob Edwards linked with Ipswich Town move amid Kieran McKenna links
Kieran McKenna has been heavily linked with a move away from Ipswich Town in recent weeks, with the likes of Brighton, Chelsea and Manchester United all thought to be keen on the Northern Irishman.
If he does go, Edwards has reportedly been lined up as a potential replacement for the Tractor Boys, who were promoted to the Premier League earlier this month.
With Luton going down and Ipswich coming up, the potential chance to move to Portman Road could be tempting for the 41-year-old, who will surely be keen to continue testing himself at the highest level.
Rob Edwards needs to think carefully if he’s offered the Ipswich Town job
Ipswich could be an excellent destination for Edwards.
There’s a good feeling at Portman Road right now and the fans will be extremely excited about the new season – a buzz the 41-year-old will want to experience after experiencing it last year as well.
And a chance to stay at the top level will be tempting for Edwards, who will want to overcome his 2023/24 disappointment to assert himself as a top-flight manager again.
Ipswich’s owners have backed McKenna with some good additions too – and Edwards may have a big budget to play with if he made the switch to Suffolk.
However, Edwards needs to be extremely careful.
The young manager won’t want to risk having two relegations on his CV during the early stages of his career, something that could happen if he moves to Portman Road but fails to shine there. Ipswich have been out of the Premier League so long that even their most diehard fans would bite your hand off for 17th next season.
Overseeing two relegations could lower his stock for the future – and that isn’t ideal for the 41-year-old who will want to be as successful as possible.
As well as this, he won’t want to be seen as someone who will willingly betray clubs.
He received some criticism for the way he left Forest Green, as stated above, and it would probably hurt Luton if he left now.
The Hatters gave him a chance to manage in the second tier again, quite soon after his departure from Vicarage Road, so the Bedfordshire outfit would be right to expect loyalty from their current manager.
At Kenilworth Road, he has the chance to add some top-quality players to his squad, continue operating under stable ownership and compete for promotion to the top flight again, with wins in the second tier next season likely to increase his confidence.
At Portman Road, he will likely be fighting relegation.
Edwards will have plenty of chances to manage in the top tier again in the future if he’s really worth his salt, so he should be considering staying at his current club even if an offer from Ipswich comes in.
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