SWINDON SHORTLIST: THREE MANAGERS WHO COULD REPLACE WELLENS

Featured Image Credit - Salford City FC

Richie Wellens this week has left Swindon Town for Salford City, after two years in charge with the club.

The Mancunian had signed a three- and half-year deal in February but has swapped his loyalties closer to home to the club run by the Class of 92.

This move came as a shock to most of the Town fans, especially as the news broke out just weeks after Wellens stated his loyalty to the club.

It became public knowledge earlier on in the year of Blackpool's interest in Wellens, however he showed his commitment by turning the offer down and extending his contract at Swindon.

Wellens, in his first full campaign with the Robins managed to secure promotion for the return to League One as champions via PPG, ending a three-season spell in the bottom tier.

Swindon hadn't had the best of starts to this campaign however, as they currently sit 20th in the table after nine games, just above the relegation zone.

In what has been an injury riddled start to the season, fingers were starting to point at the Robins recruitment.

There have been debates that the inability to keep key players from last season may have contributed to the poor start, and looking deeper into the departure of Wellens, this may have been a factor in his decision to leave.

One thing is for sure with Salford, money is definitely not an issue when it comes to bringing in targets. This is contrasting to his previously contracted club where it was known that Town would certainly not have had one of the largest budgets in League One.

So, it's hard to not assume this along with the pay rise he would receive was a big factor in the switch to manage in the league below.

Assistant Noel Hunt will be taking temporary charge of the club, and will most likely be given a chance to prove himself by owner Lee Power, however with the strong chance of a replacement being needed externally, let's look at some potential replacements the club could bring in.

POTENTIAL REPLACEMENTS

Paul Tisdale (Currently 6/1)

The former Exeter and more recently MK Dons manager has led both his former teams to League One, and being located local to the Robins, Tisdale could be an appropriate replacement for Wellens. His philosophy to play attractive football would sit nicely with Town fans who were treated to eye-catching football last season as their club stomped their dominance on League Two. Tisdale was sacked from MK dons last season after a poor start in their League One campaign

Paul Heckingbottom (Currently 8/1)

The former Barnsley, Leeds and Hibernian manager could be a potential replacement for the Reds. The last time he managed in League One was with Barnsley where he took over as caretaker and led them to the Championship and winning the EFL Trophy too. The 43-year-old didn’t have the best of campaigns when he made the controversial switch to rivals Leeds Utd, where his poor start led to his sacking just after 16 games in charge. He is currently in charge of the Sheffield Utd U23’s, however a potential return to senior management will surely be tempting.

Matthew Taylor

Not currently anywhere near the top of the betting markets, however there's a chance that owner Lee Power will have the former fan favorite from recent seasons in the back of his mind. The former Premier League veteran finished his successful career at Swindon, his hard work and wand of a left foot led to Taylor becoming a favorite among the Town faithful. Having had an unsuccessful attempt in charge as caretaker in the 17/18 season following the resignation of former manager David Flitcroft, will Taylor perhaps fancy a proper shot at the role?