Premier League is like a golden egg. Prize money, TV
broadcasting revenues and tickets sales bring significant profits which can
finance the team to the next level. On the flip side, being over-ambitious
could mean a long way back, should a team lose their place in one of the most
popular football leagues.
If Leeds and Portsmouth demonstrated the worst way to fail,
Wigan is following the textbook in operating a football club.
Roberto Martinez advocated attractive football and brought
an unexpected trophy to the JJB Stadium. Although failing to bring Wigan back
for the ninth season in the top flight, Dave Whelan could not have asked for
more from the Spaniard, who has already delayed his departure to a bigger club
by rejecting Liverpool last summer.
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| Welcome to JJB, Owen Coyle |
Owen Coyle has slotted in. He had some previous success in
Championship with Burnley, but his recent disastrous spell with Bolton will be
amplified by Wigan supporters, questioning his ability to bring Wigan back on
the right track.
Being fair to Coyle, he was left with a mess at Bolton when
they relegated. Having lost half of their first-team regulars, including the
retired Fabrice Muamba, Irish international Keith Andrews and Liverpool
youngster Jay Spearing (loan) were the only notable acquisitions. Bolton
experienced a turbulent transition period but believed they were better than
the 18th place Coyle had put them in.
Looking at the summer activity of Wigan, you could almost
say Dave Whelan is pulling all the right plugs. He has brought Scott Carson
back to England to solidify the goalkeeper mix consisting of the eccentric Ali
Al-Habsi and inexperienced Lee Nicholls. Losing Alcaraz, Figueroa and Ronnie
Stam at the back, Whelan smartly acquired utility-man James Perch, who also had
previous experience in Championship.
On the other side of the field, Arouna Kone joins Martinez
at Everton. Di Santo is also released after his contract expired. They have
lost two technically very gifted strikers, who were also fan favourites.
However, Grant Holt and Marc-Antoine Fortune, the two forwards Wigan has
brought in, could be more efficient goalscorers in the Championship.
While Holt has already proven his ability to score in all
levels of competition, his superior physicality, so as Marc-Antoine Fortune's, will
become Wigan's invaluable assets in the more direct style of football in
Championship. Moreover, they only cost a total of £2 million, £3 million less
than the profits from selling Arouna Kone.
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| Grant Holt is a bargain purchase of Wigan |
Having also snapped up ex-captain of Burnley Chris McCann,
Wigan has retained the core backbone, like Ben Watson, Shaun Maloney, Jean
Beausejour and Jordi Gomez, who played together at the top level last year,
also adding some veterans with experience playing in the Championship. Although
they are looking set to part way with promising winger Callum McManaman, the
extra profits may be even more useful for Dave Whelan to address any
shortcomings in the squad.
Anyhow it is only July. To say Wigan will be back to Premier
League next season is an immature prediction. One thing for certain is Dave
Whelan runs a football club as a sensible businessman to some degree of
success. He has avoided financial disaster and squad dismissal after relegation
and has gifted Martinez's successor decent assets to attempt the comeback. To
manage European football amidst the tight fixtures of Championship would be
some challenge. It will be down to Owen Coyle to prove he is not the Whelan's
worst acquisition this summer.
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