Richard Paul Wellens (born 26 March 1980) is an English professional football manager and former player who played as a midfielder.

Wellens then took over the vacant managerial position at Swindon Town in the summer of 2018, eventually leading the club to the 2019–20 League Two title on PPG during the COVID-19 pandemic.

He left Swindon to manage League Two team Salford City in November 2020, but lasted less than six months in charge before being sacked, having won the rearranged 2019–20 EFL Trophy.

He would return to win at the Cardiff stadium two more times with Blackpool, both with the Football League Trophy; first in 2002[6] after scoring a crucial opening goal against Huddersfield Town in the first leg of the North Area Final, and again in 2004,[7] the same season he was placed in the 2003–04 Football League Second Division PFA Team of the Year.

His first competitive goal for Doncaster was in August 2007 in the Football League Cup with the second strike in a 4–1 victory over Lincoln City; however, this wasn't the first time he had hit the back of the net for Doncaster: in his very first appearance in a Donny shirt, Wellens chipped the ball over the opposition goalkeeper and into the net from 40 yards in a pre-season friendly against non-league Retford United.

Wellens made 97 appearances, scoring 10 times, during his spell with Doncaster prior to his £1 million move to Leicester City.

He played a crucial role in Nigel Pearson's team that reached the play-offs semi-finals, where they lost to Cardiff City on penalties.

[19] On 4 October, Wellens joined Ipswich Town a one-month loan deal,[20] and returned to Leicester after an "impressive" seven game spell.

[21] On 23 July 2013, Wellens left Leicester City by mutual consent, having played a total of 149 games and scoring 6 goals over his four seasons with them.

[28] Having helped Shrewsbury to safety in League One, making twelve appearances in the second half of the 2015–16 season, he was made available on a free transfer less than five months later with manager Micky Mellon unable to guarantee him first-team football.

[36] After a five-match unbeaten run, he was appointed manager on a permanent basis on 18 October 2017 on a two-year contract, following a recommendation from Paul Scholes.

[40] On 13 November 2018, Wellens was appointed manager of League Two side Swindon Town following the sacking of Phil Brown.

[44] Wellens would guide Swindon to a 13th-place finish, ending the season with a 3–1 comeback victory against Notts County, who were relegated out of the Football League for the first time in their 157-year history as a result.

[46][47] The first game of Wellens' reign came on 7 November, with a 2–0 win against Hartlepool in the FA Cup first round at Moor Lane, courtesy of goals from Bruno Andrade and Emmanuel Dieseruvwe in extra-time.

[54] On 9 March 2022, Wellens was appointed head coach of the historic East London League Two club Leyton Orient on a two-and-a-half-year deal.

[60] Following a stellar run of form to end the calendar year, Wellens was awarded Manager of the Month for a second time for December 2024 having led his team to sixteen points from six matches without conceding a goal.