Edwards has projected positivity, combined with realism, in his public comments – but it is the same privately.
The coaching staff are seeing the improvements on the training ground they want, believing players are getting fitter and becoming braver on the ball – but that is not being shown in games.
They had a good week of training before a last-minute defeat at Arsenal and it was the case again this week, with Edwards drilling in his message and methods.
He has lamented how the squad have forgotten the basics – running, pressing, positional intelligence – and believes the fundamentals in football are not properly coached any more.
Edwards will look to start the rebuild in January, a process Wolves must embrace but also handle with care.
They need to get a head start on the summer but cannot look like they are surrendering to relegation months before the end of the season.
Players will also have their own agendas.
Joao Gomes, who has not played for Brazil since March, will have hopes of a World Cup spot, as will South Korea’s Hwang Hee-chan – who has had limited game time in the past two months.
Homegrown players will be targeted – Wolves have currently filled their non-homegrown quota – and Premier League know-how sought after a summer where the club’s executives admitted they got the window wrong.
Edwards knows, though, that Wolves’ position will leave some reluctant to join with the spectre of the Championship looming.
Doherty said: “It has to be [a good transfer window]. We need something, whether that is in the loan market or whatever.
“We are going to need some fresh energy, I’m not going to say which positions but we need something…
“We are going to need everyone to find the level of last season. We were in a tough spot this time last year as well but obviously this is a lot worse.”