Richie Wellens is reportedly in the frame to become the next Cardiff City manager, as the Bluebirds begin life in League One following a chaotic and disappointing campaign.
However, the Leyton Orient boss will not leave London if he manages to guide Orient to play-off joy this season.
Wellens on the radar after outstanding spell at Orient
Wellens has built a strong reputation in the EFL with his tactical acumen and ability to improve underperforming teams. Having taken over the East London club in March 2022 during a relegation battle in League Two, he has since overseen an impressive transformation.
Orient were crowned League Two champions under his leadership in April 2023. In their first season back in League One, he guided them to an 11th-place finish — their highest in nearly a decade — and signed a new three-year deal as a result.
The 2024/25 season has seen his stock rise even further. As Orient qualified for a play-off place, Wellens collected back-to-back League One Manager of the Month awards in December 2024 and January 2025, strengthening his credentials as one of the most respected coaches in the lower leagues.
Cardiff, on the other hand, are seeking a long-term solution after a season marred by instability. The club sacked two managers — Erol Bulut in September and Omer Riza in April — while Aaron Ramsey took interim charge but was unable to halt the club’s slide into League One.
With no permanent successor named, Wellens is reportedly among those being considered to lead the rebuild at Cardiff City Stadium. His preference for progressive, attacking football fits the mould of what the board are believed to be targeting in their next appointment.
Promotion prospects could keep Wellens at Brisbane Road
Whether Cardiff can lure Wellens away from the capital may depend heavily on the outcome of Orient’s current campaign. Should they achieve promotion to the Championship, there is a strong belief that he would remain loyal to the project he has developed in London.
However, if Orient fall short, the challenge of reviving a club with Cardiff’s resources and stature could prove tempting for the 44-year-old, particularly with the Welsh side hoping to bounce back at the first attempt.
Writer’s view
Richie Wellens would be a bold but logical appointment for Cardiff City. His success at Leyton Orient shows he knows how to organise and energise a squad. The timing of any move, however, hinges on whether Orient go up.
If they don’t, Wellens could view Cardiff as the next step in an upward managerial journey — a club with big expectations and the infrastructure to match. But with loyalty shown at previous clubs, the Bluebirds may need to act fast and decisively to make it happen.
