How has Richie Wellens established a feel-good factor at STFC?

SWINDON TOWN play host to Macclesfield Town this weekend as the Robins look to make it three league wins on the bounce. And as STFC attempt to propel themselves to the top of the League Two table, Total Sport Swindon’s Ryan Walker explores just how Richie Wellens has managed to instil a feel-good factor at SN1.

Rewind to November last year, and the sacking of Phil Brown was met with mixed reactions as fans of Swindon Town bemoaned yet another disappointing managerial tenure as the club slipped further down the League Two table. A then inexperienced Richie Wellens would be appointed as the clubs fifth permanent manager in three years, and a new era got underway for STFC fans.

The arrival of Wellens at the club - a manager whose only previous managerial stint had come during Oldhams 17/18 relegation season - prompted a concoction of negativity with many expressing their frustration at club chairman Lee Power inciting that the latest managerial appointment was based on saving money rather than to the benefit of the club.

Fast forward to the present day and the scenes couldn’t be any different with chants now well established honouring ‘Richie Wellens’ Red & White Army’ as Swindon sit just three points of the top of the League Two table having started the season with four league wins, two draws, and just one loss. 

And as the feel-good factor returns to the County Ground with matchday attendances increasing every fixture, there is a feeling that this season could just be the year that Swindon earn promotion away from the doldrums of League Two football. 

Since arriving at SN1, Wellens has stood by his morals and footballing tactics of playing quick-counter attacking football that not only brings results but is also attractive on the eye. 

His insistence on playing for the fans and getting results for them has helped him establish himself as one of the clubs most popular figureheads in recent times, whilst also being honest in his press conferences and not shying away following a rare bad performance. 

Under Phil Brown’s stewardship, Town played a possession based game that was slow in build-up and too often saw Swindon fail to shoot from range as the side tried to pass the ball into goal. 

However with Wellens in the hot seat, Swindon have been transformed into a free-flowing, goal-scoring side, with Swindon joining current Premier League champions Manchester City as joint top-scorers across English football’s top four divisions, 14 goals each. 

Swindon have already suffered a home league loss this season, losing one-nil against Northampton, but as the Robins return to the County Ground this weekend as they host Macclesfield Town in the latest round of League Two fixtures following on from back-to-back wins against Morecambe and Leyton Orient, Swindon have started to develop a fear-fear-factor, and in front of a packed home crowd, anything less than three points will be seen as points dropped. 

This season is still in its preliminary stages and there is certain to be a whole host of ups and downs on what will undoubtedly be another rollercoaster season in League Two football, but the feel-good factor that Richie Wellens and his staff have been able to create within this short space of time will only help push Swindon to promotion and with the fans as the clubs 12th man, this season could just be the year that Swindon start their climb back towards the higher echelons of English football.