“Why are other fans annoyed?” – Alex Crook rants on the reaction to Rob Edwards’ move from Middlesbrough to Wolves this week.
Alex Crook took aim the widespread outrage among non-Middlesbrough football fans over manager Rob Edwards leaving the Championship side (where they were pushing for promotion, sitting 2nd in the table) for boyhood club Wolves who are bottom of the Premier League.
He called it a bizarre trend of fans “getting offended on behalf of other teams’ supporters,” while acknowledging Middlesbrough fans’ rightful frustration at being “jilted.”
Crook defended Edwards’ decision, highlighting his deep ties to Wolves: a former player with over 100 appearances, multiple coaching stints, local upbringing, and family connections, plus a lucrative 3.5-year contract.
“People want to get offended on behalf of supporters of other teams.”
“Why are other football fans annoyed??”
Alex Crook speaks on the fan reaction to Rob Edwards’ move to Wolves 🐺 pic.twitter.com/wREiP9Qtch
— talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) November 12, 2025
First words from Rob Edwards and Jeff Shi with appointment marking ‘new chapter’ for Wolves
He said via talkSPORT: “Do know what, think we’ve seen a new sort of stance from football fans where people want to get offended on behalf of supporters of other teams.
“I understand if you’re a Middlesbrough fan, you’re going to be a bit annoyed. You’ve got a new manager in, you’re 14 games into the season, you’re looking like a good bet, potentially for automatic promotion, and he’s gone.
“So they’re entitled to feel jilted and to feel that it’s about unfair on them.”
“But why are other football fans so annoyed, by the fact a guy has taken a job in the Premier League, presumably has got himself a decent pay rise, he’s got himself a three and a half year contract at the club that he adores, he served as a player, more than 100 games, he’s been there three times in various coaching roles, he grew up in the area, he’s got strong family connections in the area, why would he not take the job?
“And also Middlesbrough have a history of starting a season well, falling away and then maybe getting to January and selling their best player.
“Don’t completely rule that out when it comes to Hayden Hackney. I don’t understand the outrage from non-Middlesbrough fans about Rob Edwards taking this job.”
Darren Bent: “What surprises me is that if Rob Edwards had gone the other way and Rob Edwards had lost five or six games on the spin, there’d be people calling for his head and saying, needs to go.
“So I understand from Middlesbrough’s perspective, fans, by the way, I can understand, we’re flying, why would he want to do that?
“But it does kind of make sense to me because it is a Premier League job for now at the minute and everything you just spoke about.
“And sometimes these things matter more in terms of him from the area, spending a lot of time in that area, having roots there in that area.
“It kind of makes sense to me in terms of that side of things.
“I know where they are in the table doesn’t, but his connection to the football club, it doesn’t surprise me that he jumped at the chance.”
Alex Crook: “No, I agree. And I know that he privately believes this Wolves team is better than the Luton team that he had in the Premier League.
“And yes, they went down, but he did make them competitive. They were by far the best of the three relegated teams that season.
“It’s going to take a miracle, but they’ve got 27 games, Wolves. I think he’ll get funds in January if they look like they’re in a position to maybe challenge to stay up.
“If they’re not, then probably they’ll keep their powder dry. But you look at the Championship and I know you watch a lot of Championship football, Benty, it’s getting weaker by the year for me.
“So if the worst happens and Wolves do go down, if the owners invest properly, I think they’ll put their faith in Rob Edwards that he is the best possible man to bring them straight back up again, hence the three and a half year contract.
“And what I think is also key here is the part of the remit when they were looking for a replacement for their previous manager is ideally they wanted a British coach.
“That’s why they looked at Gary O’Neil initially, obviously there was a backlash from fans about his return and he ultimately decided the timing wasn’t right for him.
“Then they pivoted to Rob Edwards. And I think what they’re trying to do here, Wolves, is maybe detach themselves a little bit from the cosy relationships they’ve had with Jorge Mendes and his agency and try and bring in more British field.
“It wouldn’t surprise me if when they do recruit players, they’re looking closer to home than they have done before. think Matt Jackson, who’s been part of the recruitment team, is going to come in as sporting director. He’ll get a promotion.
“So I think we’re seeing a change of culture and they believe that the Rob Edwards is a good communicator.
“From the minute they believe he’s a good person, he gets the club, he understands the club, and that’s why they’ve gone down this road.”
“Why are other fans annoyed?” – Alex Crook rants on the reaction to Rob Edwards’ move to Wolves, and this is how Twitter users responded…
@MrPauloGoodman: Alex Crook talking sense. Biggest overreaction I’ve seen to a manager jumping ship in yonks. Not really that hard to understand why he’s left
@Barbsmfc86: Alex crook the outrage is due to a manager suddenly citing distance as an issue when he slated players for leaving Boro for not being committed and then he jumps at first chance when no one wanted him. The move for him makes no sense forget promotion he was at a stable club going
@willwwfc: Is that Alex Crook talking sense??? Well said mate
@CJ_7171: Couldn’t have put it any better myself, @alex_crook absolutely nailing it here. I guarantee that if any other club came in for him he’d of stayed at Middlesbrough, their weird fans just need to get over it & themselves #wwfc #mfc
@GraemeBandeira: Do your research and if people want to get offended let them. It’s not for effect. It’s because Edwards has acted like a massive weapon and here you are defending him.
@hemps23: The very fact that fans of teams other than @boro are offended by it tells you everything! They can see how bad it was just ditching a team after only 4 months. The Wolves job will come up again, he’s only 42. He could have waited.
@RedlineUTB: People can be empathetic for other people shocker 😂 also the fact this is the best start in our HISTORY should tell you we most certainly do not start well. We do better late in the year when automatic spots are all but gone lmao
@OldWolfie75: The triggering from non-Middlesboro fans has been on another level. #wwfc
@NFFCTom: This is true about us. Other fans get upset when we sack our manager or our owner goes on our pitch. Even when we sign players 😂
@mcf4rl4ne: Maybe because most football fans are loyal to their club and have seen here, played out, a distinct lack of any sort of integrity. Coupled with it being one of, if not the shortest managerial reign where a manager resigns to take over at another club having wanted this job twice
@BullseyeTips: Finally. SENSE #wwfc #boro
@NickBeall73: Crikey – an open lesson on how not to read a room! The reason fans from all clubs are outraged is that a lack of integrity, loyalty, and commitment from players and managers alike is blighting modern football and fans have had enough!!!!
@MFCLukas: Clearly never watched our club or has any clue about us, “Middlesbrough have a history of starting seasons well” when mate? When have we ever done that outside of this season?
@SCOLLLLL: Is the Middlesbrough that usually starts well in the room with us? @alex_crook
@Russell19871: It’s not outrage it’s just fans are commenting on his clear disloyalty against club who showed faith in him when his stock wasn’t high, then he’s off in a craic 14 games later
@KJA_mfc: Ahaha start the season well. What shit journo first time in years we have been near the top and hunted by others. Usually playing catch up cos our first ten games we start slow. COCK
@Smoggy1604: Always respected him until I heard this crap! Boro fans are fully entitled to be raging with him. He’s 14 games into 3 year contract….. the shortest ever by any manager leaving of his own accord.
