Salford City appoint former Swindon Town manager Richie Wellens ahead of FA Cup first round tie against Hartlepool United

Wellens helped Swindon Town to promotion from League Two last season and has now left The Robins to become Graham Alexander’s permanent successor as Ammies manager.

It also brings the caretaker manager role of Manchester United legend and Salford co-owner Paul Scholes to an end.

Wellens returns to Moor Lane after making nine appearances as a Salford player during the 2016-17 campaign in the National League North.

The club has since gained promotion to the Football League and the 40-year-old has been tasked to repeat his feat from last season at Swindon Town lead the Ammies into League One.

He told the club website: “It’s a Club that everybody takes great interest in because of the profile of the Club, it’s a Club on the up and I’m a manager that wants to win games. Coming to Salford is an opportunity to win week in, week out, and it’s a fantastic opportunity for me to take the Club to where they want to be.

“The Club has had unbelievable success in the last six years with Bern and Jonno [Bernard Morley and Anthony Johnson] winning promotions and Graham Alexander getting them into the Football League, and I’m looking forward to continuing that success.

“Promotions at this level are more difficult, but the rewards are greater and I believe in continuing that success as well as giving the Club an identity and style that reflects the people of Salford.”

Wellens’ first test will come in the form of Dave Challinor’s Hartlepool side in the FA Cup first round this Saturday (3pm kick-off).

The sides’ previous meeting in the competition came five years ago in the second round.

Back then, Pools were a League Two side and Salford were plying their trade in the seventh tier of English football – how times have changed.

After drawing 1-1 at Moor Lane, Hartlepool won the replay 2-0 after extra-time at Victoria Park back in 2015.

They also beat Salford 3-2 at home when the sides last met in the National League in 2019, despite losing the reverse fixture 3-0.

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