SWINDON Town has announced manager Richie Wellens will remain at the club until June 2023 following his decision to sign a new three-and-a-half-year deal.

After joining Town in November 2018 and hauling the club from 18th to the top of League Two within two seasons, Wellens’ initial contract at the County Ground was set to run out in the summer.

But with significant interest from League One Blackpool about their vacant managerial position, Town revealed chairman Lee Power blocked an approach from the Tangerines to speak to Swindon’s 39-year-old boss as contract negotiations were taking place with the Mancunian at SN1.

In a statement on Swindon Town’s website, the club said: “We are thrilled that Richie has decided to continue his tenure and excited by the challenge of continuing the upward trajectory that the club is on with him at the helm.

“Since taking over, Richie has taken the team from 18th in League Two to the top of the division, while playing some of the most attractive and intense football the County Ground has seen for a long time.

“Wellens’ on-pitch success has been mirrored by his endeavours within the community and his desire to give the people of Swindon and Wiltshire a club they can be proud of.”

Speaking to the club, chairman Lee Power said: “We’re thrilled that Richie’s committed his future to the football club.

“He’s a young manager, still, with huge potential and we’re really excited by the way he has got the team playing and the results that have come with that.

“His hard work on the training pitch, and out watching games, is second to none as well as his efforts around the club and in the community.

“It really was our top priority to get this sorted as early as possible and I’m really glad to have got it all over the line so that Richie and the club as a whole can concentrate on the aim of promotion.”