Leyton Orient boss Richie Wellens has played down speculation linking him with a return to Blackpool following the sacking of Steve Bruce.
The 45-year-old, who made more than 200 appearances for the Seasiders as a player, has been among the early favourites for the vacant post at Bloomfield Road.
Wellens Responds To Blackpool Talk
Wellens’ name has featured prominently in the bookmakers’ lists this week, with the former Seasiders midfielder viewed as 1 of the leading contenders for the job. However, it remains uncertain whether he features on chairman Simon Sadler’s shortlist as the club begin their search for a permanent successor to Bruce.
Speaking after Leyton Orient’s 4-0 victory over Doncaster Rovers, Wellens insisted he was fully focused on his current role despite the attention surrounding his future.
“I’m professional,” he told BBC Radio London. “It’s more or less every time a vacancy comes up in the mid-to-bottom of the Championship or good clubs in League One. It is what it is and I try to stay professional.
“It’s a compliment for everybody at the club. We’ve won a lot of football matches, the success here for 4 years has been extraordinary, we were one match away from being in an unbelievable position.
“We’ve developed players, young players and loan players, so if you rewind four years and you want a load of box ticking, we’ve ticked a hell of a lot of them. It’s not ideal, but we’ve got to be as professional as we could possibly be.”
Wellens has enjoyed remarkable success at Brisbane Road since taking charge in 2022. He guided the O’s to the League Two title and then to the League One play-off final, signing a new 3-year contract in the summer.
Any club hoping to prise him away would reportedly need to pay compensation of around £1 million.
Competition For The Vacancy
The Seasiders are weighing up several options following Bruce’s departure. Former Wigan Athletic manager Leam Richardson is now the bookmakers’ favourite, while ex-Bolton Wanderers boss Ian Evatt had previously led the market.
Also mentioned are former Blackpool manager Ian Holloway, Republic of Ireland legend Damien Duff, and interim boss Stephen Dobbie, who oversaw Saturday’s 1-0 defeat to Stockport County. That result extended the Tangerines’ poor away form, leaving them 23rd in the League One table after 12 matches.
Writer’s View
Richie Wellens’ credentials make him an understandable target for a club like Blackpool. His record of promotions, player development, and attractive football fits the profile of a modern League One manager capable of rebuilding momentum.
Yet with Orient continuing to push towards another promotion campaign, and Wellens tied to a long-term deal, any move would come at significant cost. Unless Simon Sadler is willing to meet the reported £1 million compensation figure, it may be another name that ultimately steps into the Bloomfield Road dugout.
