Swindon Town have been left managerless as Salford City make the appointment of Richie Wellens as their new first-team manager.
It was a few weeks ago when those at the top of the Salford decided to sack boss Graham Alexander, who had got them promoted from the National League, an 11th place finish in the fourth tier of English football (based on PPG), then had an unbeaten start to the 2020/21 season, before being axed.
It shocked plenty on social media, and then former Manchester United player turned ex-Oldham boss Paul Scholes was placed as interim manager, then went on to lose the club’s unbeaten start to Port Vale, before winning 3-0 against Southend, drawing against Crawley, winning 2-0 against Oldham and losing to Cambridge.
Now he’s been replaced with Richie Wellens as the club hope to get promotion to League One.
Richie Wellens has been named as the new Manager of Salford City!
Welcome to The Peninsula Stadium, @RichieWe11ens ?#WeAreSalford ??
— Salford City FC (@SalfordCityFC) November 4, 2020
CLUB STATEMENT
Salford City is delighted to announce the appointment of Richie Wellens as the Club’s new manager!
The 40-year-old, who won promotion from League Two with Swindon Town as Champions in 2019-20, has signed a deal until the end of the 2022-23 season.
It is a welcome return to Moor Lane for Wellens, who played for The Ammies in the National League North in 2016 and scored once in nine appearances.
Since then he had a spell in charge of Oldham Athletic in 2017-18 before becoming the manager at Swindon in November 2018, leading them back up to League One last season, and now he is eager to repeat that achievement and more with The Ammies:
“It’s a Club that everybody takes great interest in because of the profile of the Club, it’s a Club on the up and I’m a manager that wants to win games. Coming to Salford is an opportunity to win week in, week out, and it’s a fantastic opportunity for me to take the Club to where they want to be.
“The Club has had unbelievable success in the last six years with Bern and Jonno winning promotions and Graham Alexander getting them into the Football League, and I’m looking forward to continuing that success.
“Promotions at this level are more difficult, but the rewards are greater and I believe in continuing that success as well as giving the Club an identity and style that reflects the people of Salford.”
Wellens scored once in nine appearances in a Salford shirt in the 2016-17 season.
The former Manchester United academy player enjoyed a lengthy career with the likes of Blackpool, Oldham, Doncaster Rovers and Leicester City mainly in League One and The Championship.
He won promotion from the Third Division with The Seasiders, and from League One with Doncaster as well as a number of individual accolades including three PFA Team of the Year selections and two Player of the Year awards. That experience throughout the Football League and his connections to Salford make him a good fit.
Chairman Karen Baird commented: “We are pleased that Richie has agreed to become manager of Salford City.
“After a thorough process, we highlighted Richie as an ideal candidate for the manager’s position. It is an exciting move as Richie is someone who has achieved success in League Two, and we look forward to further promotions together.”
Co-owner Gary Neville added: “Richie is someone we know well from Manchester United and his previous spell here.
“He has success at this level after winning the League Two title with Swindon Town last season, and his philosophy to play attacking football is what we want to bring fans at The Peninsula Stadium.
“His knowledge of the area and the club having played for ourselves and come through the youth ranks at Manchester United also fits in with the profile we were looking for.
“We look forward to achieving success together.”
Sporting Director Chris Casper is also positive about how the appointment can benefit more than just the first team:
“It’s an exciting appointment for the Club, Richie has good experience of the level we’re at and where we want to go.
“Working closely with Warren Joyce he is keen to provide a pathway for the talented young players at the Club to have the chance at playing for the first team. His ambitions match our own and we’re optimistic about moving forward together and hopefully bringing more success to Salford City.”
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The Robins’ club statement read: “Swindon Town can confirm that Richie Wellens has left his position as first-team manager at the club.
“Richie has joined Salford City as their new manager having been with Swindon since November 2018.
“We would like to thank Richie for his efforts while in charge of the club, especially after our promotion-winning season last year and wish him every success in his new role and for the future.
“Noel Hunt will take charge of the side for the foreseeable future until a new manager is appointed at the club.”
Fans reacted after seeing Swindon left managerless as Salford the make appointment…
Bring him home ?⚪️ pic.twitter.com/ZPxvt26dE6
— LJ (@LewisJarvis16) November 4, 2020
I know youre trying to be professional, but no need to wish him luck. He doesn’t deserve it.
— Martin Peters (@martin_ffaf) November 4, 2020
Yeah, two weeks after pleading loyalty…
I think the guy needs a dictionary…although he seems to think he should have a testimonial…— Swindonian (@SouthCoastRed) November 4, 2020
He kind of reminds me of PDC a bit petulant when he didn’t get what he wanted! Fuck the state of the club and the pandemic we are going through!
— David Rhodes-Finney (@finney86) November 4, 2020
All that posing about loyalty, all he was doing was waiting for the right deal. Whinging to the press about chairman, he was begging them come for him.
— Daughter home Fight continues (@DaveRackliff) November 4, 2020
He’s probably had a argument with Power over funding 4 players .
Not Been given any cash 2 buy any decent players 2 challenge 4league 1 our Team it’s full of loans or people coming to the end of their careers. Yes it’s a backward step 2k fans but he won’t need 2 travel far— Royal?1965 (@1965Royal) November 4, 2020
Wellens walking away from Swindon like pic.twitter.com/X36fAItlCa
— Matt Upton (@MattUpton6) November 4, 2020
Thanks for the loyalty @RichieWe11ens ??
— Ian ? (@IanM_81) November 4, 2020
Now Mr Power get Lee Johnson or Tisdale
— Mr Grumpy (@MrGrumpyStfc) November 4, 2020
— Joe Vincent ? (@vinny5_J) November 4, 2020
Money talks doesn’t it Richie lad? Imagine dropping down a league just for money ey?✊??
— Mike Haslam (@mikehaslam28) November 4, 2020
After the arrogance of Swindon Town fans last season this is absolutely hilarious ??
— Mark Birtles (@MarkBirtles) November 4, 2020
P.S. Don’t trust what he says, we have learnt that. On the flip slide, thanks Richie for getting us up out of that hell hole of a league. You have earned your free pass out of our club! P.S. Kovar said he wants to join up with you ?
— Chris Howell (@howler50) November 4, 2020
Can you blame us?
— Dan (@STFCdan) November 4, 2020
Money talks !!
— kieran Hodge (@kieran03261109) November 4, 2020
@GNev2 how many managerial appointments is that now ? ?
— Daniel Johnson (@DanielJ46764685) November 4, 2020
See Also: Top six favourites to become new Swindon manager
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