Seventeenth in League Two. Brittle and drifting. A 4-0 hiding at home to Carlisle in his opening match served only to highlight the terrifying task in hand.
But for the former Leicester midfielder, such challenges were modest compared to those he’d already faced.
As a rookie manager at Oldham Athletic in 2017-18 under notorious Latics owner Abdallah Lemsagam, Wellens was an unwitting participant in football’s answer to Fawlty Towers.
Facilities either crumbling or repossessed. A training ground in ruins. Then there was Lemsagam himself, a chairman more hands-on than your average masseuse.
From bursting into the dressing room to meddling in team selection, the former agent refused to take a back seat – including awarding lucrative contracts to useless trialists behind the manager’s back.
“It wasn’t exactly a good grounding,” says the 39-yearold, a former Manchester United trainee who made 600 EFL appearances over the course of his 16-year career. “Tough would be a better word. You have to do things you wouldn’t expect. You have to go through situations that aren’t the norm.
“At any club, the relationship between manager and chairman is paramount. If it’s good, it’s invaluable. If it isn’t, the whole thing will fall apart. “It’s no good a manager having one conversation about team selection with his staff, then going away and having another conversation with the chairman.
“Because the manager might then have to pick one person whilst the staff have all agreed on somebody else. It just causes conflict and distractions that you don’t really need.”
Relegation was the inevitable outcome, and Wellens’ escape to Wiltshire initially appeared a case of frying pan to fire.
Denne historien er fra December 15, 2019-utgaven av The Football League Paper.
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Denne historien er fra December 15, 2019-utgaven av The Football League Paper.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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LUKE BOOSTED BY WALES ACE LIAM
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MATT'S DELIGHT OVER RECORD
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TON-UP IAN ENJOYS HIS SPECIAL WIN
AN Evatt described his 100th win as Bolton boss as very special, although he needed Aaron Collins' injurytime goal to bring up the three figures.
DONS LACK A CLINICAL EDGE AS SADDLERS GRAB POINTS
NATHAN Lowe's strike inspired promotion-chasing Walsall to victory over AFC Wimbledon at the Cherry Red Records Stadium.
SUB GRIMES IS IN-SPIRED TO HEAD THE WINNER
CAPTAIN Jamie Grimes headed in a late winner for Chesterfield after a game of very few chances appeared destined to remain goalless.`
COBBLERS TEST IN TROPHY FOR POSH
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HORNETS REMINDED OF GRAY'S BRILLIANCE
WAYNE Rooney expressed his delight as Plymouth extended their unbeaten league home run to six after Andre Gray's last-gasp leveller.
MARTI DOUBTING JOB AFTER DRAW
Rangers home run continues
BIG MAC'S ON TARGET TO SEE OFF THE TIGERS
LUTON boss Rob Edwards felt it was a very good day at the office as his team turned in a gritty performance to beat Hull.
Rohl confident Owls
DANNY Rohl said getting results is the only thing missing as his Owls were held at home by Cardiff.