The Pressure Cooker: Richie Wellens

There was talk that Richie Wellens was set for the chop at Doncaster Rovers after just a month of the season, back in September.

The former Leicester City midfielder held on to his position and there has been some improvement for the South Yorkshire club but a 3-0 defeat away to Bolton Wanderers in midweek has left Rovers firmly in the bottom four and the relegation places in League One.

Stunning at Swindon before struggling at Salford 

Wellens’ first job was as the manager of Oldham Athletic. The Latics were in real strife at the bottom end of League One looking like there was very little hope of picking up points at all, let alone staying up. 

His start was magnificent with a five-match unbeaten run to kick off his tenure after a victory against Peterborough United as the caretaker boss, too. He didn’t do enough to steer Oldham away from their inevitable relegation, though.

His appointment at Swindon in November 2018 was greeted with some scepticism by some of The Robins’ faithful. He guided Swindon to a mid-table finish and made them secure in the fourth tier.

The next season, however, was incredibly impressive. Swindon were rampant in front of goal with Jerry Yates, Eoin Doyle and Diallang Jaiyesimi forming the core of a potent attacking force.

Swindon were destined for promotion before the COVID-enforced break to the season meant League Two was abandoned. Swindon were automatically promoted as champions due to PPG (Points Per Game).

He took charge of Swindon for a short time in League One but off-the-field issues were clear for the Wiltshire club and a return closer to home with big spending Salford City was viewed as an opportunity for Wellens so he departed Swindon for The Ammies in November 2020.

Wellens’ first match in the league was a 2-0 defeat, live on Sky, away to local rivals Bolton Wanderers. A comical own goal from Jordan Turnbull mid-way through the second-half sealed that defeat. Salford improved as the season went on but failed to really click into gear and make a statement. 

He guided Salford to an EFL Trophy victory in the final against Portsmouth on penalties but departed the club shortly after in March 2021. 

Donny’s difficulties

©Getty / George Wood

Darren Moore suddenly left the club in March last season to move to local rivals Sheffield Wednesday in the hope of guiding The Owls away from almost certain relegation. 

When he left, Doncaster were in the top-half with hopes of squeezing themselves into the top six and the playoff places. 

Given that, Doncaster were one of a number of clubs throughout England’s third tier with ambitions of at least the top-half and the top six maybe. The competitiveness of the league meant it was always quite likely a team would dramatically underperform their pre-season expectations.

Just three wins in their opening 18 matches has Donny second-from-bottom, just a point above bottom-of-the-table Crewe Alexandra – who, incidentally, are the opposition that Doncaster have avoided defeat against on the road. Just one away point all season has contributed to a messy situation. 

©Getty / Daniel Smith

Richie Wellens was viewed as, arguably, the most promising young manager in the EFL just a couple of seasons ago. Now he appears close to being sacked for a second time in 2021. 

Doncaster go to Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink’s Burton Albion at the weekend with The Brewers fresh of the back of a 4-0 thumping of Accrington Stanley in midweek. It is a huge game for Wellens and Rovers.