Wellens to continue at Athletic helm

Athletic manager Richie Wellens

Richie Wellens looks set to continue as Athletic manager next season.

Many had expressed doubts as to whether the 38-year-old former Leicester City and Doncaster Rovers midfielder would continue in the job after Athletic were relegated to Sky Bet League Two on Saturday.

However, it is understood talks have taken place between Wellens and club owner Abdallah Lemsagam, with an agreement being reached to keep the former at Boundary Park.

It means that Wellens will be able to begin shaping his squad ahead of the start of pre-season training in July, and the new fourth tier campaign as they look to bounce straight back.

Indications were that the manager was already being involved in deciding who stays and who goes at Athletic, with the news emerging yesterday that seven players had been released at the end of the season, including Ollie Banks, Brian Wilson, Tope Obadeyi and Paul Green.

Wellens was drafted in as caretaker manager back in September following the sacking of John Sheridan after the club experienced a nightmare start to the season, leaving them without a point for the first month of the campaign.

But an unbeaten run of six games, including four wins and two draws, meant that Wellens quickly became a front runner to replace Sheridan, and he was duly handed the role on a full-time basis soon afterwards.

Despite that impressive start though, a poor January, where the club only picked up a single point, left them still in a relegation dogfight, from which they would never recover, meaning they went into the final game of the season knowing only a victory at Northampton Town would see them definitely safe.

However, their 2-2 draw, coupled with Rochdale beating Charlton Athletic, meant that it was Athletic who were relegated.