The 41-year-old is back at the Keepmoat Stadium for a third spell (albeit his first as manager) and on the face of things his appointment should provoke a much-needed reaction amongst what remains of the playing squad after the dismal and disastrous finish to last season.
Of the final three candidates who were in contention; the other two being John Eustace and Stephen Robinson, any would have made a worthy appointment when you glance over their CV's and consider their individual achievements and merits.
However, it's Wellens' name that will connect best with the majority of the wider fan-base as the country emerges from the shadows of the pandemic. Most people will remember his exploits in the heart of midfield during two spells at the club as a player and his appointment will particularly help with the inevitable PR campaign to sell Season Tickets which is surely going to follow any day soon.
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| Richie Wellens is back (Photo: Doncaster Rovers FC). |
What to expect from Richie Wellens?
Combative, determined and always demanding 100% effort in his playing career, there is no doubt a few players will be concerned when they ask around and find out Richie Wellens is a manager quite likely to fire a few rockets up backsides in the dressing room.
That style or persona might not suit everyone - certainly there'll be a few players bricking themselves because there is no way on this earth he'll stand by and accept the sluggish, slack and lackadaisical standards or performances which blighted the second half of last season.
If players don't pull their socks up, I've no doubt they'll be told in no uncertain terms. There's also every chance that after two seasons of hearing the Darren Moore stumbling over his words followed by the largely reserved demeanour of Andy Butler, the home manager's post-match interviews at the Keepmoat Stadium are about to become a tad more forthright and interesting!
Underneath Wellens' steely persona, there is a clever football brain - something which was no doubt enhanced by working under Sean O'Driscoll's methods followed by a stint with Sven-Goran Eriksson a couple of years later at Leicester City. The characteristics, training methods and intelligence in football matters possessed by the new manager should at least earn him the respect from everyone.
As an outright manager, his methods and style proved effective by the results he achieved in his two years at Swindon Town whom he guided to the League Two title. Some comparisons can also be drawn between Wellens and Lee Clark, in my opinion, who always appeared as an intense, tough disciplinarian but ruthlessly driven to succeed and whose Huddersfield Town team was very much a representation of his own character around a decade ago!
Recruitment, as always, will be utterly pivotal to success and this is where it should be pointed that before taking this job there is no doubt he'll have received certain assurances from the board of what he's allowed to spend on players, what the available budget is and what the ambitions are for the future. Targets will have already been identified and spoken to, agents will have been contacted and therefore it shouldn't be long until the steady flow of new signings begins to materialise.
However, the promises which the board will have made to him in terms of the budget/finances need to be kept in order to avoid any murmurings of an unhappy boss - something which has happened all too often at DRFC in the recent past.
It should also be pointed out that despite this being Wellens' fourth managerial role, this will be just the third time where he's had a full summer to build his own squad. The first time he did so, he put together a title-winning team - blending together relatively inexperienced players (such as Jerry Yates) with more senior 'been there and done it' type professionals.
It's churlish to think that history will be repeated and he'll be able to make the same impact at the Keepmoat Stadium right away - after all, he was in the job at Swindon for a good six months to oversee matters before that aforementioned summer where he could truly put his stamp on the squad, but with time, patience from fans, support from the board without any tight-fisted prudence, coupled with a degree of longevity (i.e. staying a couple of seasons), Wellens might be able to put a team together which is competitive, decent and entertaining in the higher part of League One.
Will that be good enough to get promotion? Who knows! If bigger clubs such as Sheffield Wednesday, Sunderland, Portsmouth and even Derby County (if they're demoted) stick around in League One, it'll certainly make the challenge tougher.
But Wellens certainly won't be wanting his team to piddle around in inconsistent form and finish in mid-table obscurity forever and a day.
How will he be with the younger lads?
One of the most common questions asked by young players at every club is whether the first team manager is someone who'll give young lads an opportunity to show what they can do, or instead if they'll sign experienced players and pretty much disregard the youth.
Before Andy Butler boldly opted to utilise several players who'd progressed through the academy in his spell as caretaker last term, it's fair to say that the same Rovers youngsters - including Branden Horton, Louis Jones and AJ Greaves, were frozen out by previous boss Darren Moore who said plenty of nice things in the media (which, to some people, might be classed as bullshit) but in all honesty, treated the majority of them quite shabbily.
Unless he was also hiding in the bushes with a pair of long-range binoculars, not once was Moore present at a youth team game - even before the pandemic when fixtures were still played at Cantley Park, and very rarely did he ever show his face on the sidelines at an Under 23s game before that side was scrapped due to costs. On the rare times he did appear, it seemed more of a 'public show' for a few minutes before disappearing again!
Wellens may or may not turn out to be different from Moore; to use a cliche only time will tell in that respect, but from speaking to some lads who were on the books as first-year youngsters when he was last at DRFC, they speak okay of him - saying that he offered support, advice and guidance and took certain individuals under his wing to help them become better players. Jerry Yates, who worked under him at Swindon aged 22/23, has also spoken positively in interviews.
Another positive factor to consider is the new manager should be able to relate to the various trials and tribulations which young players go through because his own son, Charlie Wellens, has just finished his second year with Manchester United's Under 18s.
Of the youngsters currently contracted for next term, I suspect there'll be an immediate bond and mutual respect with AJ Greaves - simply because the two share very similar traits in playing style and where they operate(d) on the pitch. This is in addition to the same characteristics such as being determined, always wanting to win, having a burning desire to succeed and demanding the best from those around them within the environment.
In Wellens' two years at Swindon, some youngsters from the Robins' youth and academy set-up were thrown into the first team during his stewardship - Sol Pryce and Harry Parsons being two names, whilst others including Luke Haines, Toby Holland and Massimo Giamattei were involved and included on the bench at different points.
The EFL Trophy games (sometimes targeted as a competition for young scholars and first-year professionals to make their breakthrough) wasn't just a case of 'chuck all the kids in' but neither was it a closed shop scenario where the young guns never stood a cat in hell's chance of getting any game-time.
Why the VSC Secretary's position is untenable...
It's widely-known that the secretary of the Viking Supporters Co-Operative (who posts as Silent Majority on that forum) is fed information from the club by Rovers Chief Executive Gavin Baldwin.
The task of being a 'go between' figure for the club and its fans will always represent difficult challenges for anyone who in that position - especially at the times when they're in possession of sensitive and/or confidential information which isn't in the public domain.
Personal opinions on sensitive subjects and insults towards others shouldn't ever happen but unfortunately, this hasn't always been the case with 'Silent Majority'.
Over a prolonged period, the VSC Secretary (who its alleged represents fans' views through the VSC and has dialogue with the club) has been abrupt, argumentative, downright rude and sometimes abhorrent and dictatorial in both his online demeanour and responses to individual fans concerned enough to raise questions over various matters. Even ex-chairman John Ryan has been on the end of a verbal keyboard bashing from this individual previously and several members who were once part of that forum have long since departed it.
But why is this relevant right now?
Well, in the past, the VSC secretary has made a string of inappropriate postings regarding the character and behaviour of new manager Richie Wellens. This has occurred over a number of years - stemming back as far as the midfielder's playing days at the club to as recently as last week when he was just still a candidate to become first team manager!
This is totally unacceptable and certainly not the professionalism you'd expect from someone who is provided with information by the CEO in discussions which are claimed to be regular.
Quite frankly, when it's widely known that 'Silent Majority' already dislikes the current DRFC manager - and he may use his self-appointed position to influence others with his comments, how can he be trusted, respected or even taken seriously by the wider fanbase? Will he be able to not hold a grudge (as clearly one is evident), can he remain respectful and impartial when it's needed, or will he instead choose to leak out specific bits of information aimed at portraying the manager in a certain light in order to suit an agenda?
The relationship between the manager and the Chief Executive is always the most important at any football club. It must be watertight and trust always has to exist - simply because as soon as it doesn't, or if the trust is broken, the relationship will turn sour with problems arising.
Therefore, is it now appropriate that the VSC secretary continues to remain in regular dialogue with the club's hierarchy on a pretence of representing supporters views, or should he resign from what may appear to some as being an untenable position?
I'd strongly urge the club - and specifically Gavin Baldwin, to not risk jeopardising what needs to be a professional, fruitful and positive relationship with the first team manager. That relationship will carry vastly superior weight than any conversation with a person who has already made ill-judged remarks on a forum where they also happen to be a moderator.
The actual 'silent majority' of fans exist within the wider fanbase as opposed to the 150-200 or so who are signed up as part of the Viking Supporters Co-Operative. Both the Supporters Club, plus the Supporter Liaison Officer - an entirely separate entity and separate individual, are much more welcoming and well-respected amongst the wider fanbase!
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