KingLes wrote: Sat Sep 19, 2026 6:48 pm
Something odd going on unless he’s not well
Things do not seem right.
(1) He went down the tunnel straight after the game
(2) No interview before or after the game
(3) Always goes over to the fans after the game
(4) At the last game a so called fan had a go at him during the game near the dugout
(5) Facebook and Forum having a go at his son
(6) Nigel is over here.
Is that enough evidence to say he could be leaving.?
His stock is the lowest it's been since we've been in League 1 and he's been backed heavily in the transfer window. It'd be odd timing, especially since he's talked a lot about how much he likes the new squad.
That said, I have the feeling it'll be his last season with us regardless of where we finish. We do well and he'll have earned a move to a bigger club. Do badly and he's finished after last year. Middling and it'll feel like the right moment to part ways for both.
KingLes wrote: Sat Sep 19, 2026 6:48 pm
Something odd going on unless he’s not well
Things do not seem right.
(1) He went down the tunnel straight after the game
(2) No interview before or after the game
(3) Always goes over to the fans after the game
(4) At the last game a so called fan had a go at him during the game near the dugout
(5) Facebook and Forum having a go at his son
(6) Nigel is over here.
Is that enough evidence to say he could be leaving.?
His stock is the lowest it's been since we've been in League 1 and he's been backed heavily in the transfer window. It'd be odd timing, especially since he's talked a lot about how much he likes the new squad.
That said, I have the feeling it'll be his last season with us regardless of where we finish. We do well and he'll have earned a move to a bigger club. Do badly and he's finished after last year. Middling and it'll feel like the right moment to part ways for both.
Yeah, its make or break this season.
Either we go up/get close to going up and Richie gets a move to a 'big' club, or we have another mediocre/poor season and board decide to cut our losses - he goes to Leicester or Blackpool or something.
Mistadobalina wrote: Sun Sep 20, 2026 11:08 am
His stock is the lowest it's been since we've been in League 1 and he's been backed heavily in the transfer window. It'd be odd timing, especially since he's talked a lot about how much he likes the new squad.
That said, I have the feeling it'll be his last season with us regardless of where we finish. We do well and he'll have earned a move to a bigger club. Do badly and he's finished after last year. Middling and it'll feel like the right moment to part ways for both.
Hm. 7th-8th? That would represent a massive improvement on last season having lost an exceptional goalscorer, with the promise that some of the less experienced players can only be better for having a League 1 season under their belts. Or something.
Things do not seem right.
(1) He went down the tunnel straight after the game
(2) No interview before or after the game
(3) Always goes over to the fans after the game
(4) At the last game a so called fan had a go at him during the game near the dugout
(5) Facebook and Forum having a go at his son
(6) Nigel is over here.
Is that enough evidence to say he could be leaving.?
His stock is the lowest it's been since we've been in League 1 and he's been backed heavily in the transfer window. It'd be odd timing, especially since he's talked a lot about how much he likes the new squad.
That said, I have the feeling it'll be his last season with us regardless of where we finish. We do well and he'll have earned a move to a bigger club. Do badly and he's finished after last year. Middling and it'll feel like the right moment to part ways for both.
Yeah, its make or break this season.
Either we go up/get close to going up and Richie gets a move to a 'big' club, or we have another mediocre/poor season and board decide to cut our losses - he goes to Leicester or Blackpool or something.
Why exactly would a club like Leicester hire Wellens?
He’s a bloke who won League 2 a few years ago now, bottled a L1 play-off final and (assuming it’s a mid-table finish as per your example) produced back to back mediocre league finishes despite significant backing from club owners.
The Reverend wrote: Sun Sep 20, 2026 11:24 am
Why exactly would a club like Leicester hire Wellens?
He’s a bloke who won League 2 a few years ago now, bottled a L1 play-off final and (assuming it’s a mid-table finish as per your example) produced back to back mediocre league finishes despite significant backing from club owners.
He won League 2 with Swindon as well, albeit in the short pandemic season. He also royally pissed Salford off, which is a massive plus in my book. I accept that last bit might not impress the boards of bigger clubs as much as it pleases me.
North Stand Dave wrote: Sat Sep 19, 2026 7:21 pm
It's been toxic on the Facebook supporters group, some keep saying Wellens must go if we lose today, criticising Charlie, nepotism, basically similar to some on here
But the thing is, Ritchie's mum is on there & if you keep reading that stuff about your own Son & Grandson & then tell him, no wonder he's avoiding fans.
I know people will say that's part & parcel of being involved in football & also Irene shouldn't be on the group but it doesn't change it that Ritchie is someone's son & his own son is being slagged off constantly.
That's a fine argument in itself for not signing your son(s) Causes complications that wouldn't otherwise be part of daily management duties
I think this is the truest thing I've read on here all year . If criticism of Charlie has caused this latest rift then this is the problem . This is exactly what Martin and Sam Ling suffered with from before . Like I said before , Charlie can play otherwise he wouldn't be in the team . He's better than what some people give him credit for . The only thing I've ever said was maybe Charlie should have been taken off last week for a more attacking player when we were chasing the game . I also acknowledged that I'm not a professional football coach so I don't really know about tactics . Maybe it was because Charlie has a better range of passing than the other players on the bench , I don't know , that's only a guess .
His stock is the lowest it's been since we've been in League 1 and he's been backed heavily in the transfer window. It'd be odd timing, especially since he's talked a lot about how much he likes the new squad.
That said, I have the feeling it'll be his last season with us regardless of where we finish. We do well and he'll have earned a move to a bigger club. Do badly and he's finished after last year. Middling and it'll feel like the right moment to part ways for both.
Yeah, its make or break this season.
Either we go up/get close to going up and Richie gets a move to a 'big' club, or we have another mediocre/poor season and board decide to cut our losses - he goes to Leicester or Blackpool or something.
Why exactly would a club like Leicester hire Wellens?
He’s a bloke who won League 2 a few years ago now, bottled a L1 play-off final and (assuming it’s a mid-table finish as per your example) produced back to back mediocre league finishes despite significant backing from club owners.
Leicester are not in a good place financially, so not going to be getting big name managers anymore.
Richie's still got a decent reputation in the game - especially at this level - and a new manager with deep ties to the club could help get wavering fans onboard and bring some positive 'vibes' to the place.
Either we go up/get close to going up and Richie gets a move to a 'big' club, or we have another mediocre/poor season and board decide to cut our losses - he goes to Leicester or Blackpool or something.
Why exactly would a club like Leicester hire Wellens?
He’s a bloke who won League 2 a few years ago now, bottled a L1 play-off final and (assuming it’s a mid-table finish as per your example) produced back to back mediocre league finishes despite significant backing from club owners.
Leicester are not in a good place financially, so not going to be getting big name managers anymore.
Richie's still got a decent reputation in the game - especially at this level - and a new manager with deep ties to the club could help get wavering fans onboard and bring some positive 'vibes' to the place.
Deep ties to the club?
He played for them for 3 seasons 14 years ago, while they were in the championship.
Since then they’ve been promoted to the Premier League, won it, won the FA cup and played in Europe.
At best, older fans might go “oh yeah, I remember him.”
You’re talking like he’s some club legend. Bizarre.
Why exactly would a club like Leicester hire Wellens?
He’s a bloke who won League 2 a few years ago now, bottled a L1 play-off final and (assuming it’s a mid-table finish as per your example) produced back to back mediocre league finishes despite significant backing from club owners.
Leicester are not in a good place financially, so not going to be getting big name managers anymore.
Richie's still got a decent reputation in the game - especially at this level - and a new manager with deep ties to the club could help get wavering fans onboard and bring some positive 'vibes' to the place.
Deep ties to the club?
He played for them for 3 seasons 14 years ago, while they were in the championship.
Since then they’ve been promoted to the Premier League, won it, won the FA cup and played in Europe.
At best, older fans might go “oh yeah, I remember him.”
You’re talking like he’s some club legend. Bizarre.
He's got more connection to the club than most working managers out there - and, rightly or wrongly, that seems to count for a lot these days.
Would Solskjær, Carrick etc have got Man Utd job if they hadn't been serviceable ex players? There's plenty of other examples out there.
Leicester are not in a good place financially, so not going to be getting big name managers anymore.
Richie's still got a decent reputation in the game - especially at this level - and a new manager with deep ties to the club could help get wavering fans onboard and bring some positive 'vibes' to the place.
Deep ties to the club?
He played for them for 3 seasons 14 years ago, while they were in the championship.
Since then they’ve been promoted to the Premier League, won it, won the FA cup and played in Europe.
At best, older fans might go “oh yeah, I remember him.”
You’re talking like he’s some club legend. Bizarre.
He's got more connection to the club than most working managers out there - and, rightly or wrongly, that seems to count for a lot these days.
Would Solskjær, Carrick etc have got Man Utd job if they hadn't been serviceable ex players? There's plenty of other examples out there.
Solakjaer and Carricks connections to Man United are completely incomparable to the relationship Wellens has with Leicester. Is this a WUM?
The logic of the appointment is the same: a respected former player with a genuine connection to the club goes away, builds experience, then returns as manager. Sometimes they come back despite little-to-no managerial experience at all (e.g. Giggs at Man Utd).
Richie made nearly 150 appearances for Leicester, captained them and won Player of the Year. That's not nothing.
Plenty of clubs have done similar things with ex-players of different stature. The comparison is about the structure/type of the appointment, not pretending every returning ex-player had the same playing career.
Last edited by E10quence on Sun Sep 20, 2026 5:04 pm, edited 1 time in total.
My guess is Gandler has turned up the heat, last season I think we spent big pre-season and it never turned into anything and even worse staying up by goal differenc, we went big again this season and just got our first home win since March, Richie is heart on the sleeve and a bit ego mad, he probably hasn't taken that well, that is who he is. The new owner was never going to accept 20th and some of the poor results this season forever, people are crazy, Wellens is here for a reason. Playing his son let alone having him here in my eyes is a massive lack of judgement and sensitivity. Regardless of how good or bad Charlie is, you just don't do it
Let alone getting rid of Ling, Mrcormack, Beckles, Gallagher, at some point you have to look at the guy that is asking you to get rid of them and say well we've done all this, time of you to deliever for me
Travis I think is still very smitten with Wellens which I think is massively in his favour but Gandler will want return on investment ie by being up the other end of the league
essexfootball wrote: Sun Sep 20, 2026 10:49 pm
My guess is Gandler has turned up the heat, last season I think we spent big pre-season and it never turned into anything and even worse staying up by goal differenc, we went big again this season and just got our first home win since March, Richie is heart on the sleeve and a bit ego mad, he probably hasn't taken that well, that is who he is. The new owner was never going to accept 20th and some of the poor results this season forever, people are crazy, Wellens is here for a reason. Playing his son let alone having him here in my eyes is a massive lack of judgement and sensitivity. Regardless of how good or bad Charlie is, you just don't do it
Let alone getting rid of Ling, Mrcormack, Beckles, Gallagher, at some point you have to look at the guy that is asking you to get rid of them and say well we've done all this, time of you to deliever for me
Travis I think is still very smitten with Wellens which I think is massively in his favour but Gandler will want return on investment ie by being up the other end of the league
I agree with all this - but I'm not sure 7 games into the league season is sufficient time to make a call.
That said, am sure Richie will have been set some pretty stretching targets for this season - both in terms of cup runs, but also league position at various points in the season - so think the stuff he was saying after the Barnsley game re: Board just wanting him to avoid relegation was complete nonsense.
The fact that both Nigel and Gandler are in town at the same time Richie has gone AWOL is not a coincidence.
I think RW honestly believed he'd teach us a lesson by not acknowledging fans or media even if we won. Shame he couldn't adopt the same principles on so many occasions previously but It must be a dark place when your head is that far up your own A'hole
The fact that both Nigel and Gandler are in town at the same time Richie has gone AWOL is not a coincidence.
If Richie was peed off with Nigel and Goosey, why would he go quiet on the fans? I'm not sure that makes sense. He'd be wanting to rally us up behind him.
It's much more likely he's peed off with the supporters - whether that's the booing at home at end of half/full time, the alleged incident with some fans after the Wycombe home game, or the online stuff his mum has seen. Or a combination of the lot.
The fact that both Nigel and Gandler are in town at the same time Richie has gone AWOL is not a coincidence.
If Richie was peed off with Nigel and Goosey, why would he go quiet on the fans? I'm not sure that makes sense. He'd be wanting to rally us up behind him.
It's much more likely he's peed off with the supporters - whether that's the booing at home at end of half/full time, the alleged incident with some fans after the Wycombe home game, or the online stuff his mum has seen. Or a combination of the lot.
He’s also probably under more scrutiny and pressure than he has been since he took over -
An owner who may want to see quicker returns on his investment in players,
A set-up that’s given Richie clearer ownership of recruitment etc.,
No linear progression in league position last year,
His continuing inclusion of his son, despite the sight test suggesting he’s not l1 quality.
The fact that both Nigel and Gandler are in town at the same time Richie has gone AWOL is not a coincidence.
If Richie was peed off with Nigel and Goosey, why would he go quiet on the fans? I'm not sure that makes sense. He'd be wanting to rally us up behind him.
It's much more likely he's peed off with the supporters - whether that's the booing at home at end of half/full time, the alleged incident with some fans after the Wycombe home game, or the online stuff his mum has seen. Or a combination of the lot.
You'd hope a middle aged man is not that thin skinned and has enough perspective to understand why months of getting turned over at home might lead to a very limited amount of grumbling. If he's allowed to bollock players in public, it's not unreasonable you'd get a light smattering of boos after yet another home defeat.
Side note to this but I don’t understand why some grown adults need their football manager to come and clap at them. The blokes who rush to block the stairs in the south stand so they can get the best clapping spot, meaning the rest of us have to shuffle round them in single file, are infuriating!
Why exactly would a club like Leicester hire Wellens?
He’s a bloke who won League 2 a few years ago now, bottled a L1 play-off final and (assuming it’s a mid-table finish as per your example) produced back to back mediocre league finishes despite significant backing from club owners.
Leicester are not in a good place financially, so not going to be getting big name managers anymore.
Richie's still got a decent reputation in the game - especially at this level - and a new manager with deep ties to the club could help get wavering fans onboard and bring some positive 'vibes' to the place.
Deep ties to the club?
He played for them for 3 seasons 14 years ago, while they were in the championship.
Since then they’ve been promoted to the Premier League, won it, won the FA cup and played in Europe.
At best, older fans might go “oh yeah, I remember him.”
You’re talking like he’s some club legend. Bizarre.
Have been working in Leicester for a few months now with quite a few City fans and quite a lot of them wanted Wellens over Martin and would take him tomorrow although I suspect that's more to do with how it's working out with Martin right now.
Obviously, that's not a representation of their entire fan-base though.
Leicester are not in a good place financially, so not going to be getting big name managers anymore.
Richie's still got a decent reputation in the game - especially at this level - and a new manager with deep ties to the club could help get wavering fans onboard and bring some positive 'vibes' to the place.
Deep ties to the club?
He played for them for 3 seasons 14 years ago, while they were in the championship.
Since then they’ve been promoted to the Premier League, won it, won the FA cup and played in Europe.
At best, older fans might go “oh yeah, I remember him.”
You’re talking like he’s some club legend. Bizarre.
Have been working in Leicester for a few months now with quite a few City fans and quite a lot of them wanted Wellens over Martin and would take him tomorrow although I suspect that's more to do with how it's working out with Martin right now.
Obviously, that's not a representation of their entire fan-base though.
He played for them for 3 seasons 14 years ago, while they were in the championship.
Since then they’ve been promoted to the Premier League, won it, won the FA cup and played in Europe.
At best, older fans might go “oh yeah, I remember him.”
You’re talking like he’s some club legend. Bizarre.
Have been working in Leicester for a few months now with quite a few City fans and quite a lot of them wanted Wellens over Martin and would take him tomorrow although I suspect that's more to do with how it's working out with Martin right now.
Obviously, that's not a representation of their entire fan-base though.
Fair enough. I stand corrected.
To be fair, they all seem united in their hate for Russell Martin. I'm back in Leicester on Weds to judge the mood which I assume won't have improved. Was a bit surprised myself at the love they have for RW - much of which seems to emanate from his interview after the final game last season.
