Salford City manager Richie Wellens has lost his job after just 138 days in charge of the Lancashire side.
It comes just nine days after he led them to their first-ever major trophy as they beat Portsmouth, but neither manager from the afternoon is now in work, as Kenny Jackett left Portsmouth immediately afterwards. A losing manager you can understand going, but Wellens has paid the price not for winning a trophy, but for failing in the league.
Last weekend’s defeat against high-flying Cheltenham left them six points off the League Two play-off spots, and he was forced to tear into his players after watching their warm-up. “I’ve never watched our warm-up but I watched it today because our changing rooms, obviously they’ve moved them, so you can see the warm-up,” he said. “Our warm-up I’m not happy with at all. I said to Warren Joyce when they came in if the game was won on the warm-up, we’re already beat, it was a shambles so I’ll be looking into that.”
He won’t be looking into it though, instead, he’ll be persuing the ‘situations vacant‘ section of his local paper whilst the club hunt a new manager. It does seem harsh on Wellens, who has now won two trophies in as many seasons, after leading Swindon to the League Two title last season.
Salford’s club statement read: “Salford City Football Club has parted company with Richie Wellens by mutual consent. We would like to thank Richie for his time and efforts at the Club and wish him well for the future. An announcement about a new manager will be made in due course.”
As you would expect, fans of other clubs have taken the news with the usual sarcasm and disgust. Salford are no looking for their third manager of the season, having also sacked Graham Alexander despite him putting them fifth in the table earlier in the season, and being undefeated.
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@GNev2 You need to stop this obsession with getting promotion every season. No-one is going to want the job. Any new manager for you is on a hiding to nothing from day 1. You need to look more long term and give people time.
— Jon Harris (@Jon_Harris_) March 22, 2021
This is getting embarrassing @GNev2 ! Stop fucking about changing the manger every ten mins! We won a cup last weekend and yeah struggled a little lately in the league but show faith and have patience. You want too much, too soon 🤬
— Andy Walsh (@SalfordWalshy) March 22, 2021
Are you in a competition with Oldham for how many managers you can sack? What a farce
— Stefan camps (@Stef1885) March 22, 2021
I'd take Richie at #DRFC he knows these leagues inside out, he's won promotion from them as both a player and manager. Given time and patience he would have got Salford to the Championship. In League 2 you need men in your team. Talent, technical ability isn't the way in L2.
— Danny Farber (@DanielSahne94) March 22, 2021
Deluded owners!
— Stuart Finch (@StuartF1984) March 22, 2021
This Neville guy is always critical of Man Utd ways of everything as if he can do better. He failed as a coach, he will fail as a club owner, and also fail as a pundit. Talks too much
— MR S. M. I. T. H (@SmithWhiteB) March 22, 2021
Mickey Mouse Club with Champagne Owners
No Manager with a brain will go near them— OnExmoor (@ExmoorOn) March 22, 2021
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