It's a tough job for Wellens

Athletic manager Richie Wellens

Speaking ahead of Saturday evening's crunch final-day Sky Bet League One relegation clash at Northampton, Athletic boss Richie Wellens has claimed he currently holds the toughest job in the division.

Athletic head to the Sixfields Stadium knowing that three points will see them safe in League One for another season and mean he can finally start planning for the start of the next campaign in August.

However, anything other than victory will open the door for Rochdale to pip them in the race to avoid the drop into League Two.

It is now one of the two rivals - Rochdale host play-off-chasing Charlton on Saturday - who will drop into the fourth tier after Walsall and AFC Wimbledon sealed safety with draws last night.

Over the past nine months, Athletic have had to deal with a transfer embargo, the saga of a long-running takeover, the dismissal of a manager and spending the whole campaign battling against relegation.

Wellens spoke of the toughest test he's faced.

He said: “Everything we went through in January with the takeover, everything we went through with the registration embargos and the transfer embargos, everything that we’ve gone through is raw emotions, and sometimes it’s difficult to hold back on.

"But we get through it the other side and we’ll be alright."

Wellens came into the job following the dismissal of John Sheridan back in September, first as caretaker then as full-time boss, after which the club went on an impressive run of six games without defeat.

Now 38-year old Wellens has one last mission to accomplish at Sixfields Stadium on Saturday in order to keep the club in League One for at least one more year and, in the process, relegate their biggest rivals.

Meanwhile, Athletic's on-loan striker Duckens Nazon has been nominated for April's Sky Bet League One Player of the Month award.

The 24-year-old scored four goals last month, helping the team secure an unbeaten run of six games. 

Athlrtic lost just one game in the month of April, with Nazon's goals ensuring Wellens' side picked up points against Walsall, Gillingham and AFC Wimbledon.

The Haitian is up against Nathan Delfouneso (Blackpool), Will Grigg (Wigan Athletic) and Rory McArdle (Scunthorpe United).

The winner will be announced on Friday, May 4.