It’s a ruthless life as a football manager, something Richie Wellens will know all too well this afternoon after being sacked by Salford City, just 5 months after being appointed.
The decision from the Class of 92 comes after another big setback in Salford’s playoff push on Saturday as they lost 2-0 to league leaders Cheltenham Town.
That latest defeat brings them down to 9th place, 6th points of the play-offs, and without a win in their last 4 league games.
In a club statement released this afternoon, Salford briefly said: “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.”
Club Statement.#WeAreSalford 🦁🔴
— Salford City FC (@SalfordCityFC) March 22, 2021
When Wellens was appointed in November, there was a real emphasis from him and the club on changing the style of football at the club which had seen Graham Alexander lose his job.
However, whilst that remained his aim, it rarely materialised into exciting, positive football and his efforts were in vain.
On the rare occasion it did come together, you could see the potential in this Salford team, the 3-0 win against Bradford in November being the standout example where everything clicked into place.
That though, begs the question why it wasn’t happening more often and why a performance so early on in his reign wasn’t repeated again?
Are the owners to blame for making so many changes to the squad season on season, meaning that players have very little chemistry or understanding with each other?
Ultimately, rightly or wrongly the modern game is all about results and Wellens wasn’t bringing in the results that the club demanded.
Whoever comes in now will know they have almost no time to get things moving in a positive direction but the rewards are still evident to see, working under a very respectable budget and a pathway to the higher divisions.
It’s vital now though that the Class of 92 get the next appointment right because they will be under some pressure if a sacking like this, so close to the end of the season, proves to be in vain.
Roy Keane was in attendance at Wembley when Salford defeated League One Portsmouth to win the EFL Trophy the other week, did that inspire him to take on a job with pressure but undoubted potential?
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