Wellens slams players in wake of defeat, targets summer clear-out

RICHIE WELLENS slammed his Swindon Town players in the wake of yesterdays defeat against Crewe Alexandra insisting that a big clearout of players is needed this summer. Total Sport Swindon’s Ryan Walker spoke to the STFC manager following the defeat.

A difficult afternoon saw Swindon outclassed and outplayed as Crewe Alexandra scored two goals to leave the County Ground with all three points. Speaking after the game, Wellens was furious and explained how players will be leaving the club at the end of the season

“I wanted to give people who are looking to earn new contracts a chance,” said Wellens.

“If we talk about the positives it’ll be a lot quicker. Kyle Bennett was a spark, was enthusiastic, and wanted to come and play but the other loan players thought it would be a Monday stroll in the sun and if you start like that then this is what happens.

“I’m looking at certain players with regards to planning for next year and I wanted to give Ali [Koiki] minutes to see if he can be an option for us next year,” he added. 

“My team is too nice though and I’m not going to be nice anymore. I’ve told them that in the changing room just now and I’m going to be ruthless from now on.

“There will be a big clear out in the summer. I’ve tried to sugar coat things as long as possible because when you come in and have certain ways of doing things you still have to work with the players at the club and that is so tough,” said Wellens.

Conceding a goal in the opening two minutes saw Swindon fall below the usual standards expected from Wellens’ side. And when explaining the performance, Wellens outlined how the result has cost certain players their jobs. 

“Crewe have got some tidy footballers but we didn’t press them and we made them look even better than what they probably are,” he said.

“It took us half an hour to start pressing and then second half we improved but the start was nowhere near the level required.

“Today has 100% [cost people their jobs].

“I can be the nicest guy in the world but I’m here to win and I’m going to be ruthless,” said Wellens.

“Crewe are a young group and at the end, for example, they kept the ball in the corner for six minutes and we didn’t have anyone with the experience to run around the opposite side and win the ball back. 

“We don’t have enough players with game management in the team and that’s why this club hasn’t been successful in recent years. 

“I only made three changes and the intensity was nowhere near what we want and the quality was so poor,” added the manager. 

Yesterday’s loss saw Crewe leapfrog Swindon as Town dropped to 14th in the league standings, and in the aftermath of defeat, Wellens admitted how much the result hurt him personally.

“Nobody is more hurt after that result than me,” stated Wellens.

“We have good personalities in the dressing room and they are so nice but there are some players here who don’t care.

“I have to work with those players and I have to sugar coat things but they just don’t care.

“We’ve got to a situation now where I can move them on and get players in who do care.

“I’ll be going to Cheltenham to win the game because our personal pride is at stake,” he said. 

“When I came in we were 18th in the league. Why?

“Because some of them are not good enough. Some of them think they are but they just aren’t. 

“We will have a lot of new personnel next season,” Wellens said.