Wellens: I want new season to start, to feel hungry

Jordan Brown put O’s ahead in front of a 22,500-strong crowd at Valley Parade, only for the play-off chasing Bantams to hit back soon after.

And Wellens was pleased to draw a line under the season, having seen O’s play their final few fixtures with nothing at stake.

“The last two weeks have been difficult for me because I’ve achieved something and against Stockport, against Bradford, we can’t achieve anything,” he told the club website. 

“It’s kind of a weird feeling. I want a new season to start, I want to feel hungry and achieve something else, and I think I’ve got a group of players that can do it.

“We need to add four or five to the squad, but I think if we get the recruitment right, we understand and respect what is achieveable next year, I think we can have a successful season.”

Wellens was pleased to see such a big attendance – with nearly 2,000 travelling fans – for the lunchtime kick-off and paid tribute to both clubs, with the prospect of more big days out in 2023-24. 

“It’s a tribute to Bradford. You look around and the club should never be anywhere near League Two,” he added.

“I don’t think we should be a League Two club – well, we’re not a League Two club any more!

“It shows that two clubs have had good seasons, this is a monster of a club, it’s a big club, it should be well higher than League Two.

“But our club, it has evolved over the last 12-15 months and we deserve to be coming to stadiums like this.

“We wanted to use the whole squad to get a sample of this atmosphere, it’s a good opportunity to see how players react in certain situations.

“When we play next year in certain stadiums, you make one error, one ill judgement or silly foul – momentum is key in football and especially as you move up the levels. The lads we brought in performed really well.

“We’re definitely going to Bradford next year, we’re going to Charlton, we’re going to Pompey, so we’ve got some real good days to look forward to.”

As for the short-term future, Wellens wants to get players – whether current members of the squad or new signings – to put to paper so he can enjoy a family holiday without checking his phone all the time.

And he is hoping to get some honest answers, adding: “You don’t want to push them too hard, but we’ll need answers in the next week or so.

“I want to go on my family holiday without having that stress of looking at my phone all the time because my phone will be going off.

“As long as players are honest with me, I’ve had it in the past where players have moved on, and I’ve wished them all the best. But I’ve had it as well where players have said ‘I’m going to sign for you’ and then 24 hours, they’ve signed for somebody else.

“I’d like to think this group is honest, I’ve been honest with them for the last 15 months and I’m sure they will be honest with me again.”