Leyton Orient could be in for a battle to keep hold of manager Richie Wellens as Blackburn Rovers draw up their shortlist of candidates.
Rovers are in search of a new manager following the departure of John Eustace to Derby County following a breakdown in relations between the 45-year-old and the club’s hierarchy over his year in charge in Lancashire.
Wellens Makes Shortlist
According to Alan Nixon via his Patreon page, Wellens is in the running to take over at Ewood Park thanks to his successful spell at Leyton Orient, with the London side competing for a place in the League One playoffs. The former Swindon Town boss took charge at Brisbane Road in 2022 and won the League Two title in his first full season in charge.
He is being considered alongside a few other candidates, including Gary O’Neil, who was sacked by Wolverhampton Wanderers earlier this season, as well as former Middlesbrough boss Aitor Karanka. Raphael Wicky is another name being considered by Blackburn, with the Swiss head coach nearly joining West Bromwich Albion before a late breakdown in communications saw that move collapse.
Nixon has said that a move for Wellens would fit in with the club’s limits for compensation packages and possible wage demands.
Writer’s View
Richie Wellens’ stock has massively risen and deservedly so considering how quickly he turned Leyton Orient’s season around over the past few months and gave Manchester City a real scare in the FA Cup fourth round this month. Whilst certainly an outsider due to other candidates’ experience in both the Championship and in Raphael Wicky’s case, European football, Wellens is a very promising manager and exactly who Blackburn Rovers would want to bring in. However, if the reasons for John Eustace’s departure are to be believed, it may be a job role Wellens would want to steer clear of and instead continue his rise with Orient.
