SALFORD have sacked Richie Wellens after showdown talks with co-owner Gary Neville.
The League Two side fell to another defeat at the weekend that leaves them six points off the play-off places.
Neville, who leads Fergie’s Class of ’92 hierarchy is understood to have called Wellens, 40, into a meeting at 10.30am on Monday morning.
An hour later Wellens, who took Swindon into League One last season but quit to return to his home town of Manchester, became the second Ammies boss to be dumped this season.
A statement on the club’s official website read: “Salford City Football Club has parted company with Richie Wellens by mutual consent.
“We would like to thank Richie for his time and efforts at the Club and wish him well for the future.
“An announcement about a new manager will be made in due course.
“There will be no further comment.”
SunSport exclusively revealed that co-owner Neville had held a huge inquest into Salford’s shaky promotion campaign.
Neville got all players and staff together BEFORE their Papa John’s Trophy win at Wembley for a major analysis of their League Two problems.
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Neville, 46, wanted all the grievances aired after seeing results leave them chasing the play-off pack for a second season.
Despite lifting their first senior cup, Wellens even received a text of congratulation from Sir Alex Ferguson, Neville sees rising up the league as a priority.
But he watched on at the weekend as Wellens’ side lost 2-0 to Cheltenham to leave them six points off the last play-off spot.
Wellens, who started his managerial career at Oldham Athletic, is understood to have been asked to change his possession – based style into Route One.
The believe at the Peninsula Stadium was that long ball was the best route to promotion at the ultra – ambitious club who have stormed through the ranks of non – league football.
But just as Alexander was axed despite taking the Ammies into the EFL so Wellens got the boot despite his success.
It was applauded by Ferguson but Salford’s rulers who have the biggest wage budget in League Two, are interested only in further upward mobility.
Wellens, it is understood, refused to change his philosophy on how to get there and paid the price.
Wellens left League One side Swindon in November to join Neville’s revolution – but’s it’s been a short spell in charge.
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The Greater Manchester club will now be on the lookout for their THIRD manager of the season having already sacked Graham Alexander.
Salford dispensed with Alexander in October despite an unbeaten start to the campaign.
And replacement boss Wellens has been unable to cement a play-off spot since he took charge.
On Saturday, top-of-the-table Cheltenham claimed a 2-0 win against the Ammies thanks to an early goal from Sean Long and a Liam Sercombe sealer.
Salford have won just one in eight in the league and sit ninth.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
