Noel Hunt warns Doncaster Rovers players against ‘a Richie Wellens intervention’

Noel Hunt has issued an early warning of training ground dynamics the Doncaster Rovers squad can expect under new boss Richie Wellens.
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Hunt - who has been named assistant manager in the new regime - revealed he will carry out the majority of the coaching at Cantley Park.

But Wellens will be constantly watching and will not hesitate to interrupt if he sees things that are not to his liking.

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And Hunt says that is something the players will quickly learn should be avoided.

New management team Richie Wellens and his assistant Noel HuntNew management team Richie Wellens and his assistant Noel Hunt
New management team Richie Wellens and his assistant Noel Hunt

“For me it’s about getting on the grass with the boys, making sure they’re working well and if they’re not, telling them to do better, to do more,” he told the Free Press.

“And the boss will step in when he needs to.

“It’s important we get that communication right where if it’s not going how we want it to, he’ll step in.

“Trust me, he does. And you don’t want that.

“It’s a tough game, we know that. And if you want to be a winner, you’re going to have to go through some pain.”

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Hunt was Wellens’ assistant at Swindon Town with the pair masterminding the run to the League Two title in 2020.

Explaining their dynamic further, he said: “We’ve had a good relationship the last three years, we’ve had some success and it’s one that works well.

“During the day to day stuff, I’ll take as much as I can.

“He’s not one of those managers that likes to hear his voice all the time so I’ll be in for the most of the time on the training side.

“He’ll come in for the important bits he needs the players to understand, like what he wants them to do in games, the technical side of things.

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“He will make sure everyone is on the same page and everyone understands their roles and responsibilities.

“The day to day stuff, the discipline side of things and the actual running of things, I’ll take.

“I love it. I don’t really see myself being a manager - I don’t fancy the headaches.”

Hunt insists fitness will be key to how he and Wellens envisage Rovers playing, so the squad can expect plenty of tough work when they report back next month.

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“It’s getting the players to understand that we want to play football first and foremost, but to do that you have to be fit, be able to run,” he said.

“Distances have got to be good, they’ve got to be high and they have to be one of the fittest teams in the league.

“We want very, very high intensity, attacking, pressing, front foot football we call it.

“We’ll explain it to the boys that there are certain ways to do it and trigger it but for the majority of the time we want to be on the attack and in control of the game.

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“It’s about educating the players on what we want them to do, whether it be visually or telling them. It’s finding the right way to get through to the player. I was more of a visual player and when I was told something I didn’t always understand it.

“Players are different and we just need to make sure they’re all on the same page come the start of the season.”

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In these confusing and worrying times, local journalism is more vital than ever. Thanks to everyone who helps us ask the questions that matter by taking out a subscription or buying a paper. We stand together. Liam Hoden, editor.