Football Season Review

A tumultuous but ultimately successful season for Wigan as they somehow managed to stay up in their first campaign back in League One. The season started badly. Off the pitch they were still in administration, which had led to their relegation from the Championship, with cost cutting going on throughout the football club. On the pitch they had a completely new team. They lost eight of their first 11 games. Manager John Sheridan left for Swindon in November with Wigan bottom of the table. Leam Richardson was appointed caretaker boss and led a revival in their fortunes. Momentum was halted in January with the club under a transfer embargo while more players and key staff members left. Richardson formed a completely new side made up of loans and short-term free transfers. Results picked up again in March and finally a takeover of the club was completed. Four straight wins in April put them on the brink of safety which they secured in the penultimate game of the season. Across the whole season, goalkeeper Jamie Jones and on-loan centre-back Curtis Tilt were reliable performers. Despite only featuring since January, striker Callum Lang made the difference in their fight for survival. He drove the team forward and scored nine goals. Another major squad rebuild is on the cards for Wigan with currently only four players under contract for next season. The club at least have stability now, with new owners and Richardson installed as permanent manager.

Player of the Season: Callum Lang