WELLENS: WE HAVE TO PUT ON A SHOW
RICHIE Wellens has promised to play his way to survival after beating off a host of famous names to seize the Oldham Athletic job.
Manchester United legend Paul Scholes and Dutch great Clarence Seedorf were both linked to the vacancy at Boundary Park, but four straight wins in caretaker charge catapulted Wellens into pole position.
Having lost seven of their first nine games – a run which cost gaffer John Sheridan his job – the Latics have since played with freedom and finesse to clamber out of the relegation zone. And, while the job is now his to lose, Wellens says that approach won’t change.
“As a manager, the only certainty is that you’ll get sacked one day,” says the 37-year-old, who retired this year after 601 career games in the EFL.
“It doesn’t matter if you’re me or Jose Mourinho and it doesn’t worry me one little bit. I’d rather go out playing my way – attacking, playing good football – than just try to survive.
“When I took over, these players needed to start enjoying themselves on the pitch again. We got them to enjoy moving, enjoy passing and expressing themselves. That’s got to continue.
“Yes, I want to win games. But it’s just as important to entertain our supporters. I want them to get value for money when they come through the gate.”
Situation
Despite boasting just three months’ coaching experience under Sheridan, Wellens – who has signed a two-year deal – says he always harboured hopes of landing the job.
“It’s easy to over-think things,” he explains. “Sometimes, it’s better to get pushed into a situation and either sink or swim. That’s what happened to me. I didn’t have long to get my head round being a manager. I just had to crack on.
“I know they wanted someone with more experience. But I just thought to myself ‘At the moment, the job is mine’.
“I knew I had three games, and I knew they were difficult. Portsmouth away, Peterborough, who were second in the league, Blackburn. But I also knew if I could get three wins, I’d give the board a headache.
“I think the players saw how hard I worked, how thorough I’ve been and respected that. I can’t thank them enough for the performances they’ve put in.”
Last week, the former Manchester United trainee revealed that Sir Alex Ferguson had been in touch to offer advice. For Wellens, though, another former manager proved even more helpful.
“It’s obviously great speaking to Alex Ferguson,” says Wellens. “But, at the same time, he’s spent his career in the Premier League, working with elite level players.
“So the biggest help for me was Nigel Pearson, my old manager at Leicester. He rang me several times and gave me loads and loads of advice.
“He’s won League One. He’s won the Championship. He’s experienced football at so many levels and he understood exactly what I needed.
“I always had a great relationship with Nigel. Very dry but very witty. He’s a very clever man and a fantastic manager. He’s working in Belgium now, but I’m sure he’ll be back in England very soon.”
Experience
Wellens was in the Leicester side that won League One in 2009 and that experience – coupled with his flying start – has hardened his determination to keep the ball on the deck.
“We went up playing the right way,” he says. “And look at the teams who’ve gone up over the last ten years. “I played in the Doncaster team that went up under Sean O’Driscoll.
“That same year, Swansea and Nottingham Forest were great footballing teams.
“Wigan played their way out a couple of years ago and will probably do it again. Then you’ve got Bournemouth and Southampton.
“It’s a myth that lower league teams can be successful by just punting the ball long and hoping the bounce goes your way. It won’t happen here.”