OLDHAM Athletic’s new boss Richie Wellens is hoping to bring managerial success to the club he once played for.
Wellens had two spells with the Latic’s as a player and has spent the start of this season as a first-team coach. He described his delight to be working with the club, and to have taken his first job in management.
“It’s obviously a massive honour. It’s a club I have been heavily associated with in the past and I want to try and take the club forward in a positive way.”
Before being appointed manager on a permanent basis last week, Wellens was in temporary charge of the team following john Sheridan’s departure.
Let’s go @OfficialOAFC pic.twitter.com/gEPtQYklKH
— Richie Wellens (@RichieWe11ens) October 19, 2017
Wellens became the first Oldham Athletic manager to win his first four games In temporary charge with wins over Peterborough, Portsmouth, Crewe and Blackburn Rovers. Despite his incredible start though, Wellens does not believe he made it an easy choice for the Board.
“I don’t think it was ever an easy decision, I was asked to give them a headache at the time and I think I did that. Obviously other names were involved but id like to think that I put a case for myself forward and thankfully it came off.”
Despite the fantastic start to his managerial career, Wellens isn’t getting too carried away with his ambitions for the season.
“At the minute I’m only thinking to try and get us away from the relegation zone after the start we have made, but I think looking forward it’s a club that I want to start looking at the top off league one. Can we start looking in and around the play offs in the future and eventually trying to get the club promoted to the Championship, because the difference between League one and the Championship is pretty huge.
Wellens Oldham Athletic side face the tough task of a Lancashire derby tonight when they take on Bury at Boundary Park, he had this to say on the game
“I expect us to be on the front foot, to be positive and to play the football that we have been playing. I think bury are a good team with some good players. Obviously they have a big budget, they have spent the money on some really good players but I’m expecting us to have a positive response from Saturday, it will be an entertaining affair and we can score some goals”.
Richie Wellens 1st #Oldham manager to be unbeaten in his opening 6 games in charge since the club joined #EFL in 1907#OAFC #AllWellensGood pic.twitter.com/pMRvfLdtNu
— Goodbrand Stats (@StatsChristian) October 21, 2017
He also had this to say on the clubs fans ahead of the derby.
“I don’t think Bury will bring many. It’s not like it’s a massive derby. I think if it was the other way round with our away support going to their place we would take a couple thousand but I don’t think that will be the case with Bury. We will prepare our players in the right way and look to get a positive result.”
A win tonight could move Oldham up to 16th in league One and six points clear of the relegation zone, something that couldn’t have been imagined before Wellens appointment. Kick off is 7:45pm.
Listen to the full interview with Richie Wellens here:
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