Wolves boss praises Rob Edwards' impact

Former Molineux defender Edwards moved up from under-18s coach to a job with the first team earlier this summer.

His official title is first team coach but Jackett said that Edwards would still work with youngsters all the way through the age groups.

He wants to ensure continuity throughout the club and give youngsters the smoothest possible path into the first team.

"Rob's position is with the first team and predominantly with the first team defenders," Jackett said.

"Also what I want Rob to do is make sure he projects back through the age groups, the 21s, the 18s, the 16s and 15s in particular, and make sure that our coaching of those players is as strong as it possibly can be, that the link and the pathway from the academy through to the first team is there.

"While on a day-to-day basis he isn't working and travelling with the first team, he'll be involved on matchday.

"In the week his job projects right back through the age groups and makes sure we give opportunity and chance."

It has been a fast rise for Edwards who only joined the club's coaching staff last summer.

He was forced to retire from playing at just 30 years old in summer 2013, through injury.

The former Villa defender and Welsh international also helped oversee the under-19 Bitzer Cup victory in Germany alongside under-21 coach Scott Sellars.

And Jackett said that Edwards, still aged just 32, could have a big future off the field.

"Quality coaching is a big thing and then the right information and the right sessions for any promising young players that we feel are good enough, at whatever age group," the Wolves boss said.

"I see him as having a very good coaching eye. He's got quite a natural coaching eye and a way about him.

"He's got good demeanour with the players and that's a big thing. He has empathy with players and empathy with young players.

"While on a matchday and then day to day it's a first team job, his job is to project right back to so many of those lads he knows so well now, and keeps his relationship with them, coaching them at the right time and bringing them through and making sure they're ready as quickly as possible for our first team."

Jerry Gill has taken on Edwards' under-18 role, hired after first-choice Chris Iwelumo quit just six days into the job.