P A R A L A T I C

New club shop opening details - UPDATE!

2009-04-08T16:28:00.002+01:00

Latics' brand new club shop opens tomorrow (Thursday 9th April) to the delight of supporters, and will be selling a grand array of mugs and keyrings.

Situated in the west stand, it opens at 10am, when everyone is at work. However, fortunately for the Latics administrative staff, the kids are off school to browse the quality keyring related merchandise, and by the time the fringe squad players turn up at 2pm, it will be nice and empty as they've got bored and gone to set fire to pensioners and other flammable objects.

Soccer AM's 'Razor' Ruddock will be there to 'work' in the club shop, on Dave Whelan's minimum wage.

Before the game against Arsenal on Saturday, Latics are giving away a free gift (rumoured to be a keyring) with every purchase.

Latics and Bolton Wanderers to merge

2009-04-01T11:02:00.003+01:00

In light of the recent spate of piss poor April-fools hoaxes, Paralatic have decided to unveil this golden nugget of truth amongst the shit.

The new team will play in pink shirts, embroidered with love-hearts and be re-named Maurice Lindsay's butt-munching pederasts F.C.

They will play on Aspull common, which has a capacity of three men and a jack russell.

Commenting on this development, Brenda Spencer said "What day is it? Where am I? Wibble"

'What a Brilliant Game' said a complete idiot. Latics 1 Everton 0

2008-11-25T10:34:00.001Z

‘What a brilliant game’ said a young woman as I crossed the bridge over the canal after the game.

Me: ‘I’m sorry, I disagree. It was an abysmal game with dreadful performances’.

Her: ‘We won didn’t we?’

Me: ‘Just because we won doesn’t mean it was enjoyable, neither team could string two passes together’.

Her: ‘You fucking knobhead’.

Briefly I imagined us on a date together.

Her: ‘What a brilliant pizza’

Me: ‘But someone’s had a shit right in the middle of it’

Her: ‘It’s pizza isn’t it?’

Me: ‘Just because it’s pizza doesn’t mean it’s enjoyable, especially if the ingredients and topping aren’t up to scratch’

Her: ‘You fucking knobhead’

I gave a self-indulgent chuckle as I looked into her vacant eyes, but my feelings of superiority over this dribbling mutant quickly turned to horror as I realised vacuous morons like this are allowed to vote. Provided they can work a pencil.

Her: ‘I can’t believe the Nazi Party got into power, especially after me and my friends voted for them, it’s a fix!’

Me: ‘This isn’t Big Brother you cretin. You’re not voting them off, you’re voting them in!!!’

Maybe James Whale was right, we should sterilise people at birth and only reverse the process if you can provide some semblance of common sense. It’s only a matter of time before this young lady finds someone desperately insane enough to impregnate her, and in twenty years I’ll be watching Latics, surrounded by a baying horde of clueless scruffs.

It will be like watching Manchester City.

OK, maybe this doomsday scenario is an overreaction.

Bizarrely, I actually enjoyed the match, not in a purist sense, quite the opposite. Every misplaced pass, every cross into the back of the south stand, every time Browny kicked Arteta in the back of the legs, I was howling with laughter (at least Browny actually meant to kick Arteta).

When Henri Camara prodded home 5 minutes into the second half, I knew Everton weren’t going to get back in it. We’d dragged them down to our level, and they were finding it difficult to find their arse with both hands. The game petered out, with a few more Laurel and Hardy slapstick moments to illuminate the icy evening, and we all went home, the laughter warm in our bellies.

Aston Villa - a potted history

2008-10-24T14:28:00.004+01:00

Welcome to this weekend's visitors; Aston Villa....

History

Aston Villa were formed in March 1874 by members of the Villa Cross Wesleyan Chapel Cricket Club. Folklore has it that the founder members gathered under a gaslight on Heathfield Road to discuss an alternative sport to keep them occupied during the Winter, and probably during the Summer too, as according to founder member “Jimmy” Jim McJim; “Cricket is dead boring”.

Originally named Aston and District Elephant Polo Warlords, their first match against Birmingham Behemoths ended in tragedy, when Captain Cornelius Pachyderm was unseated in a goalmouth melee, and trampled to death in the six-yard box. After his funeral the founder members decided that football was a more sedate and appropriate game to while away the winter months, and the club was re-named Aston Villa.

Villa went on to become one of the most successful clubs in England with seven league championships and seven FA cups, and are one of only four English teams to have lifted the European Cup (defeating Bayern Munich 1-0 in the 1982 final).

Famous Matches

The 1919/20 FA cup saw Aston Villa pitted against Stoke City in the third round and produced one of the most controversial incidents in the competition’s history. With the score tied at 1-1, a thunderous shot by Stoke Inside Forward Nobby Prestatyn saw the pigs bladder burst upon his new winkle-picker boots (a style that was enjoying great popularity at the time).

With no replacement ball available and both clubs facing a fixture backlog due to the previous freezing December match cancellations, it was decided that the match should be resolved with a tractor race. The captains of each club took to the wheel and raced each other the length of the pitch and back again, resulting in a dead heat. Fortunately another match ball was found before the referee decided the match on the toss of a coin and the game resumed.

The resultant quagmire from the churning of the tractor wheels worked in Aston Villa’s favour (whose players had recently returned from charging The Hun at The Somme). With just two minutes remaining, Stoke fullback Ron Ronson sank to his waist in the mud on his six-yard line as Stoke’s back line stepped forward at a Villa free-kick. Ronson was unable to move and played Villa forward Tommy Treacle onside to head home the winning goal. By the time the celebrations had ceased, Ronson had sunk beneath the surface. His remains were never recovered.

Aston Villa went on to win the trophy, beating Huddersfield Town 1-0 (aet) in the final at Stamford Bridge.

Villa in the Community

Season 2009/10 sees Aston Villa embark upon a Barcelona-style shirt sponsorship deal, bucking the usual trend and advertising a local charity (for zero club revenue) in order to raise national awareness and show commitment to social responsibility. The charity in question is Acorn’s Children’s Hospice, which provides end-of-life care for children in the Midlands area.

Villa in Popular Culture.

In the BBC TV sitcom Porridge, the character Lennie Godber is an Aston Villa fan. As a result of some poor life choices, Lennie is forced to spend his Saturday afternoons surrounded by the same drab surroundings, staring at a bucket of excrement. Ultimately however, he is saved from this awful situation when the authorities chuck him in prison.

Warriors fans blubbing to the press Shock, Horror!

2008-09-10T10:14:00.002+01:00

Warriors fans are already making excuses for the forthcoming piss-poor turn-out for Friday's home game at The Viking Valhalla Velodrome, by claiming there will be a boycott of the match.

In scenes of outrage that will warm the hearts of all long-standing Latics fans, supporters queued up in their ones and twos to complain bitterly about being kicked out of Latics ground and having to play their 'vitally important rugby game' at a neutral stadium.

Mike Thorley said: "I'm disgusted. We were shifted out of the way in the summer so that they could re-lay the pitch outside of the football season and now we're playing second fiddle to Latics again.

"This is a very important game for us. Are we equal tenants at the stadium or not?" he blubbed.

Michelle Middlehurst said: "I can't believe this is happening. We certainly know now where we stand in the list of priorities."

Yep.

Guy Benest sobbed: "We're becoming the laughing stock of rugby league."

He could have omitted 'rugby league'.

All this moaning and more will be in your Wigan Evening Post tonight, as the Warriors superiority complex comes crashing down around their ears. A just reward for years of condescending bigotry and hatred.

Rugby prevented from playing on JJB.

2008-09-08T09:09:00.000+01:00

Wigan egg-chasers are not being allowed to use Latic's ground on Friday for their play-off match against Bradford.

The Rugby Football League state the date can't be changed due to 'competition integrity issues' which means they will have to find an alternative venue to play their 'home' fixture.

Perhaps they should get their own ground instead of playing on ours.

The play-off dates and football fixtures have been known for some time, which underlines the fact that the town's soccer club takes precedent over local minority sports.

Click here for the BBC report.

Mido says at the Riverside

2008-09-01T13:01:00.002+01:00

Latics to Re-name Stadium?

2008-08-28T14:43:00.003+01:00

According to The Mirror and The Mail (which makes this a cast-iron certainty), Latics are looking at two South Korean footballers with a view to clinching a lucrative Asian sponsorship deal.

After years of receiving peanuts from JJB, the eggs have blown them out in favour of looking for shirt sponsorship elsewhere, and with Latic's chairman Dave Whelan stepping down from the JJB helm, it looks as though the Blues may do the same.

Talk of re-naming the stadium 'Chicken Fried Rice' seem to be a little premature.

Brenda Spencer and John Benson have been at the Olympics to speak to various interested parties about a potential commercial tie-up, which is amazing really when you consider these two couldn't find their own arses if you turned out the light.

Feel free to vote on the completely official (as far as I'm concerned) stadium re-naming poll (right).

Brenda Spencer is John Shaft.

2008-08-27T08:59:00.003+01:00

The Black and White Minstrel Show came to be viewed as offensive due to its performers portrayal of blacked up characters behaving in a stereotypical manner. Popular in the 1960's it is now a source of embarrassment.

Here is a picture of Brenda Spencer handing an award to two blacked up Latics fans (presumably behaving in a stereotypical manner) for their 'outstanding' fancy dress effort a few boxing days ago.

Click Here for Brenda reading out the club statement on racism.

Click Here for Brenda singing 'Mammy'.

Capello thinks Heskey is Interesting. Like Steve Davis.

2008-08-20T15:05:00.005+01:00

I'm trying to live a stress-free life. There's a bloke who sits behind me at Latics whom I never want to become. He's very pleasant and jovial, and when something irks him, he's prime heart attack material. West-standers may know him; he has a shock of white hair, a furious blood-red face and the tendons in his neck are taut with rage. And this is before we've even kicked off.

His voice booms around the stands and the ground echoes with his wise intonations as he declares at ear-splitting volume that the latest referee is unfit for duty, or that Fergie is a tit. In fact, Christiano Ronaldo's antics during Manchester United's last visit caused his eyeballs to burst and trickle down his cheeks.

I don't want that to happen to me.

Which is why I'm philosophical about Emile Heskey's inclusion in the England squad. I've never supported England. Back in the day, Division one (as was) and England were so high above Latics' station that it meant nothing at all, I couldn't relate to it. If one day a Latics player is picked for England - I thought - I may change my mind.

Nothing. I couldn't give a monkeys. Latics are my team, and nothing else comes close. Even the most ardent England followers can't understand friendlies in August. I refuse to get angry, even if he gets decapitated with a wild John Robertson (we're not worthy!) style tackle.

We can but hope that Emile comes out of it unscathed.

Gary Glitter in Further Shame And Disgrace

2008-08-20T12:59:00.001+01:00

Not only is he a kiddie-fidder, he also supports Bolton Wanderers.

The shame!

Chelsea boss in threat to Bruce.

2008-08-19T17:28:00.000+01:00

West Ham United Preview

2008-08-13T11:39:00.006+01:00

The trip to West Ham is the first chance to see our new signings in true competitive action. Steve Bruce’s solid but un-flash signings haven’t initiated any ripples in the collective psyche of our Premier League rivals supporters. Many of them think we will struggle again, pointing at Amr Zaki as the only signing of note.

Yet Bruce has added to a solid core of players to form a team that can, provided we can remain relatively free from injury, force its way into the top half of the table and kick on from there. Opinions are, as usual, far from unanimous as to the best starting 11.

I suggest:

Kirkland

Figueroa
Scharner
Boyce
Melchiot

De Ridder
Palacios
Cattermole
Valencia

Camara
Zaki

Bench

Pollitt
Bramble
Brown
Kapo
Sibierski

Heskey you will see is the notable absence from my Latics Dream Team (!)

West Ham’s supporters are concerned with the lack of cover within their squad should the going get tough on the injury front. Indeed, at the moment, they are without a recognised left back and are looking at signing Ben Thatcher (ex Manchester City nutter who smashed Pedro Mendes in the face, hospitalising him in the process, and who was consequently banned for 8 matches in 2006) as emergency cover. Thatcher was booed by the Hammers faithful during a pre-season game against Villareal. With this absence of strength in depth, perhaps first game is not the best time to be travelling to The Boleyn Ground, but a lack of quality signings over the summer has left Alan Curbishley as bookies favourite to be the first managerial casualty of the season.

Latics Yobbos Escape Jail

2008-08-12T12:58:00.002+01:00

Certain types could argue that anyone celebrating a goal whilst sitting in the opponent’s area of the ground, incurring their wrath, deserves a punch in the chops. Perhaps they do, but these punches should be served in a sterile environment to prevent infection, and be administered by licensed FA Premier League Punchers wearing rubber gloves. What we do not want, is slavering, bellowing sub-humans climbing over seats, women and children, wildly swinging pie-clutching fists in the name of retribution.

Aside from this ripping away of innocence from horrified onlooking children, this behaviour is symptomatic of a developing culture so brain damaged through repeated viewings of Big Brother, that violence is the only option in the face of provocation.

It was disappointing to see three numb-nuts escaping jail after their involvement in the East Stand fracas initiated by Yossi Benayoun’s winner for Liverpool at the JJB last season because they pleaded guilty and were in employment.

Setanta are always on the look-out to nick a few viewers from SKY, we should chain these hooligan bastards up in the centre-circle and flay the skin from their bones with barbed wire (making the children look-away first of course) for Setanta to broadcast before live games, and for Alan Hansen to ruminate over on MOTD whilst Lawro cracks a funny joke that nobody really understands.

And the morons at Wigan Athletic should re-vamp their ticketing system to prevent away fans getting into the home end in such significant numbers. It can’t be that hard, can it?

Click here for the Liverpool Daily Post report.

Pre-season Review with Michael Jackson

2008-08-11T11:56:00.006+01:00

Celebrity Latics fan and showbiz's wacky Mr.Bonkers shares his thoughts on our performances thus far.....

Paralatic: So Michael, how have you rated Latics' pre-season?

Jackson: Wigan Athletic’s pre-season performance was Walter Raleigh good, with impressive victories at Barnsley, F.C. Utrecht and Sir Trevor MacDonald. Amr Zaki was fishcakes, scoring winning goals at Hibs and Sheffield Winklepicker. Providing Steve Bruce can keep the first team fit, Latics have a fantastic chance of laddering the limpet and qualifying for European liquid trump-cloud.

Amr Zaki - 5 Amazing Facts

2008-08-07T16:33:00.003+01:00

1. He was born Amr Hassan Zaky on April Fool’s day, 1983 in Mansoura, Egypt.

2. He’s scored on his debut for every club he’s played for save Lokomotiv Moscow, for whom he didn’t play a single game.

3. His favourite food is cheese, particularly goats cheese from the southern city of Luxor, but he’s quite partial to a dairylea triangle.

4. He lives in Norley Hall with Brenda, his pet sloth, and his pet chimp, Spencer.

5. He also has a slug called Maurice

The best Wigan Athletic site in the UNIVERSE!!!

2008-08-06T15:35:00.002+01:00

Do you want a site that goes dead for 6 months and then re-appears with pictures of Maurice Lindsay smearing custard all over his hairy moobs?

If you answered 'Yes!' then PARALATIC is for you!

Enjoy the site.

Marlon King speaks out about his money demands

2008-08-06T12:44:00.003+01:00

Latics Beauties Narrowly Avoid Relegation Zone

2008-08-05T12:21:00.004+01:00

Latics trailed in a dismal 17th in a premier league beauty table commissioned by SKY.
Using their High Definition cameras, and obviously too much spare time on their hands (they could fire these wasters and drop the subscription prices), SKY have trawled through footage of supporters and come up with the following results:

Premier League Beauty Table

1. Liverpool

2. Fulham
3. Tottenham Hotspur
4. Sunderland
5. Chelsea
6. Newcastle United
7. Arsenal
8. Bolton Wanderers
9. West Ham United
10. Manchester United
11. Derby County
12. Middlesborough
13. Manchester City
14. Birmingham City
15. Aston Villa
16. Everton
17. Wigan Athletic
18. Blackburn Rovers
19. Reading
20. Portsmouth

So come on you Latics fans, stop picking your noses when there’s cameras about, put down that pie, and for God’s sake, put a bag on your head you bloody ugly bastards.

Johnny Moronic

2008-03-30T00:37:00.011Z

Watching Keanu Reeves' horrifically wooden monotone acting in Johnny Mnemonic wasn't the best way to get over Latics' result at Portsmouth. Every time we get beat I am confronted with some Hollywood drivel on Saturday night, with a pretty boy moaning and gurning in the most pitifully gruesome attempt at acting.

One couldn't help hoping that as 320 gigabytes of information were downloading into his neural network, his brain would explode, saving me from this patently amateurish attempt to transfer William Gibson's short story to celluloid. Unfortunately, the next 2 hours were spent with the 'baddies' attempting to remove his head to retrieve said data. Once they've removed it, perhaps they can give it to Ryan Taylor to boot over the Portsmouth bar. Why is he taking penalties anyway? He's only in the team as emergency cover.

An absurd end to an absurd day.

Paul Jewell in Porn Video "Shame"

2008-03-23T21:11:00.003Z

Paul Jewell didn't quit Latics due to the strains and stresses of managing in the Premier League according to The News Of The World, but because of the stresses and strains of bedding a 28 year old blonde. Getting intimate with David Beckhams ex girlfriend Lisa Hames in a bondage video he (alledgedly):

STRAPS his champagne-swigging lover to a bed using silk ties.

BRINGS on a SEX TOY as a substitute when he runs out of steam.

SLAPS her bottom and face and pulls her hair as the blonde, wearing only black suspenders, stockings and studded black boots, writhes in passion.

KEEPS his T-shirt on to hide his overweight midfield as he goes for goal in a variety of formations.

And he "Leaps on her rattling in goal after goal for a full ten minutes".

Read their hilarious article HERE.

No wonder he's got himself a nice little flat in Derby as shown on Football Focus rather than commute as he's done with previous clubs, the dirty scouse git!

Latics V Bolton Preview

2008-03-16T01:07:00.004Z

Since the early 1980’s, this fixture is the one most keenly awaited by Wigan Athletic fans. The close proximity of the two clubs forged an enmity in the furnace of the lower leagues that remains undiminished amongst the glitz and glamour of the Premier League.

The precarious predicaments of these two Lancashire rivals adds an extra spice to what is always a wonderfully heated derby, which should see the noise levels raised a decibel or two, as normally sane supporters lose their cool in the heat of the moment.

Bolton’s resting of their first team for the UEFA cup tie against Sporting is seen by some as a sad indictment of the Premier League’s clubs attitude toward their loyal support, but it means Wanderers have a full and rested squad to bring to the JJB.

Not as this will faze the Latics players, who have expressed their keenness to avenge the 4 – 1 defeat at the Reebok in December, in addition to pushing today’s opponents closer towards the trap-door.

Currently lacking fire-power, Latics fans are hoping Marlon King can break his duck and repay Steve Bruce’s faith in signing him from Watford. Emile Heskey has looked stiff recently, but with Marcus Bent suffering a knock and Antoine Sibierski not fully match fit, Bruce is relying on Heskey and Bent to prevent his team from drawing a third successive blank in the goals scored column.

Latics (from): Kirkland, Melchiot, Scharner, Boyce, Edman, Valencia, Brown, Palacios, Koumas, Heskey, King, Bramble, Kilbane, Sibierski, Taylor, Pollitt, Aghahowa, Bent, Olembe, Skoko.

Bolton (from): Jaaskelainen, Nolan, Davies, Taylor, Diouf, Gardner, Campo, A O'Brien, McCann, Steinsson, Hunt, Samuel, Meite, Cahill, Giannakopoulos, Helguson, Teymourian, Vaz Te, J O'Brien, Al Habsi.

Referee: Steve Tanner

Video Highlights: Latics 0 - 0 Arsenal

2008-03-09T23:18:00.001Z

The Stephen Ireland Appeal

2008-03-02T12:42:00.002Z

Have pity on poor Stephen Ireland. Manchester City don't pay him much and he can't afford a proper haircut. He gets his poor blind mum to cut round a basin.

Please give generously so we can send him to the barbers.

What is there to like about Manchester City?

2008-02-29T21:00:00.005Z

I used to go out with a Manchester City supporter. From certain angles on an overcast day with a prevailing wind she looked a bit like Denise Van Outen. People still accost me in the pub and go “Are you still with that City fan?”. I have to tell them that no, fortunately I am not. “But she was fit” is the standard response. Yeah, but she was also as mad as a bag of squirrels.

She subscribed to the “We are Manchester’s team” ethos. She would wax lyrical, long and loud, about how a sizeable majority of Manchester United’s supporters were not even from Manchester. It was at this point that I would point out that she herself was actually from Warrington. The irony of her monologue was lost on her however. She might look like Denise Van Outen, but she was as thick as a yard of lard.

This point was illustrated quite finely one Saturday afternoon. City had just won and she was harping on about their magnificent performance – even though she hadn’t been to the game, she just listened to the last 15 minutes on GMR. When she had run out of breath she turned to me and asked: “How many points do we get for a win?” She didn’t last long after that.

In fact, stupidity seems to pervade the entire support of Manchester City. I had the unfortunate experience of sitting with the enlightened people of the Kippax stand at Maine Road during the 1998/99 season, when they were in the (then) second division. They would slag off Shaun Goater for the full ninety minutes. True, he wouldn’t exactly do much, but what he did do was score a couple of goals - every time I went. In my book, this is what he, as a forward, is paid to do. Not enough for the City fans.

And what can be in the minds of supporters who openly welcome as chairman, a man with an appalling human rights record as Prime Minister of Thailand? Is success worth letting such a man into your club? It seems to be for City fans.

The lovely supporters of Manchester City appear to be, all in all, not at the game to show their love for City, but more in a defiant gesture to show to the world that they were not Manchester United. My current girlfriend is under strict instructions to kill me if my sole reason for watching Latics is to demonstrate I am not Wigan Rugby/Bolton Wanderers/Whoever. They seem to be missing the point somewhat.

Anyone (un)fortunate enough to travel to the City of Manchester stadium for our recent visits will have been stunned by the level of drivel spouted from the supporters nearest to the away end. The skegs in the tracksuits at whom the Latics fans chant “smackhead” must practise being morons for hours at a time in order to attain the high level of skill in this discipline.

These “fans” still adhere to the line that Manchester United are arrogant and City are the people’s club. These are the same fans who chanted “1-0 in your cup final” when they took the lead in the 2nd division against the smaller teams – no arrogance there then!

There is a mantra often spouted by the underachieving team in a town/city to lesson the pain they feel at being left far behind. Everton are another team guilty of using it. (It is in fact emblazoned across their stadium). The mantra in question is spouted fervently by any of the sad deluded people who, whilst supporting the under-achieving town team, quite firmly believe that their club is bigger, better, (it’s a MASSIVE club!!). The mantra in question is “We are The People’s Club”. No doubt Wigan Warriors will be using it next.

Paul Jewell: The Tom Cruise of Football

2008-02-24T23:26:00.006Z

Remember those days when you had to turn up WISH F.M. to full blast in order to try and make out Paul Jewell's jolly scouse patois? Well tonight I was taken back to those heady days as I forewent the pleasures of Adrian Chiles and wittering pundits to watch Tom Cruise mumble his way through "Collateral".

This was such a festering pus-filled vomit-sack of a movie, that had it a football equivalent, it would be Derby County. The neighbours were banging on the walls as I had the TV turned up full blast in order to make out Cruise's pathetic attempts to enunciate his lines. If this is the best the teachings of L Ron Hubbard can do for him, then I'll stick to the rambling maniacs at Today's Community Church.

Jesus.

In frustration, I had to give up and turn to the solace of "The Crack In Space" by Philip K Dick. At least Derby County have the comedy of Darren Moore's mongoloid defending to provide brief respite for their supporters.

Listening to Jewell's incessant "building for next season" mutterings, it makes me wonder how much drivel we Latics fans forgave him, as we listened to his language-mangling post-match cack through our blue-tinted headphones.

Video Highlights: Latics 1-0 West Ham

2008-02-03T00:04:00.000Z

Wigan Athletic 1-0 West Ham United

2nd half highlights

Kilbane's goal (complete with crap Micron Video style music).

Video Highlights: Boro 1-0 Latics

2008-01-30T08:54:00.000Z

Middlesbrough 1-0 Wigan Athletic
Extensive highlights

The JJB pitch - A Simple Solution

2008-01-28T18:55:00.000Z

Much has been made of the state of the Wigan Athletic pitch on various websites, forums and media sources, and how it does not allow the full expression of The Beautiful Game.

The JJB playing surface does not enjoy respite from the rigours of sport, and as such, cannot recover, especially as it is being worn down in the summer, when the grass should be left to grow and the pitch recuperate.

A simple solution presents itself, that of allowing just one code to ply it's trade at the ground,leaving chairman Dave Whelan with a decision to make.

Should he allow football to be played on the surface? A sport that offers global recognition, with the kudos and distinction that results from playing a sport that transcends all barriers?

Or does he allow Rugby League? Which doesn't.

Video Highlights: Wigan Athletic 1 - 2 Chelsea

2008-01-26T19:47:00.000Z

Wigan 1-2 Chelsea rlésumé�
Uploaded by cris2800

King of The JJB

2008-01-25T20:26:00.000Z

After failing to get his man in the summer, Wigan Athletic manager Steve Bruce has finally landed striker Marlon King from Watford in a deal believed to be worth around £4.5million.

King signed a three and a half year contract and said: “"I just spoke to Steve Bruce and he made me feel very welcome,

"You look at the Wigan team and they have got a good chance of survival, and there is not much more to say than that."

Steve Bruce was ebullient after capturing his long-time target. "I've been looking to bolster our attacking line up and Marlon certainly fits the bill. He's a proven finisher who provides us with a different kind of goal-scoring threat” he said.

"I believe he is the kind of player who could make a real difference to us. He's aggressive, with great pace and a natural ability to finish, something every manager looks for.

"This is tremendous news for us, especially as there were other clubs in for him. It speaks volumes about the potential there is at this club."

View From The North Stand: Chelsea F.C.

2008-01-25T16:20:00.000Z

Dan Davies from the innovative Chelsea F.C fansite: CFC.net answers a few pertinent questions prior to our 4th round FA cup tie against his team at the JJB tomorrow.......

*How do Chelsea fans view the FA cup? Does this differ from the view Chelsea FC has of the competition? How high is it on your list of silverware priorities?

It's number three on the list behind the "Big Cup" and the Premier League but the fact that we are the current holders makes us all the more keen to keep hold of it.

*Will your tactics/line-up change in anyway from that of a league match?

Probably not initially, though should we find ourselves behind or level going into the last half an hour you could perhaps see us a little more "gung ho" than we would be in a league match, as sometimes the management have felt that it's better to lose as a result of going for the win, than to subject the players to a replay and another match in a busy schedule.

*What do Chelsea fans really think of Wigan? Be honest! Plucky underdogs who’ve fought their way from lower-league obscurity against the odds with a small but passionate and loyal fanbase? Or dirty Northern peasants who have ridden their luck for long enough with a terrible fanbase who can’t even fill their stadium?

Credit has to go to everyone who's turned the team around in the last 30 years - and at least you're one of the few clubs not to chant the pathetic "You've got no history" at us! We probably learned to respect you a little more after we needed to rely on Hernan Crespo's last minute wonder goal in your first Premier League game. Keep letting us take 6 points a season from you and we're happy to have you in the top flight for as long as you like!

*Which Latics players would make a useful addition to the Chelsea squad?

The gulf in class in the Premiership means that sadly, I can't suggest anyone. It's nice to see Mario Melchiot back in English football however.

*Do you think you can do enough to overhaul both Manchester United and Arsenal at the top of the table?

It's what football managers of a certain generation call "a big ask", and realistically to do so we'll need to beat both sides when we play them at Stamford Bridge in the second half of the season. Honestly, I don't think we've been quite up to the standard of Man U this year, and so would be happy to see us bag second place when Arsenal self destruct!

*Do you think that Grant has adequately filled the shoes of The Special One? Would you have Mourinho back?

He's doing a better job than we expected when we digested the news of his appointment. How much is down to him and how much Steve Clarke and Henk Ten Cate have to do with it is open for debate. Mourinho was absolutely fantastic for Chelsea, and we certainly needed someone with his "win at all costs" mentality to turn us from perennial underachievers to Champions twice on the spin. The nature of the man meant that he was never likely to stay as long as Ferguson or Wenger, and he perhaps wasn't the man to fashion us into an exciting, fluid, open & attacking force. Is Avram Grant is that man? I'm not sure.

*What do you think of The African Cup of Nations? How much will you miss Drogba with the arrival of Anelka? Do you think they will play as a partnership when Drogba returns?

Whilst I understand why it has to be played in January, I'm frustrated by the fact it takes place every two years and not every four (like the European Championship). Anelka stands to be the perfect buy and he's certainly intelligent enough to form a potent force next to Drogba - perhaps not for every game, but certainly at home or against weaker opposition.

*What do you make of Steve Bruce? Do you think he can keep us up?

Whilst it was nice to see our old boy Chris Hutchins get a chance at the top level, he never looked likely to form you into a cohesive winning outfit. Steve Bruce would win few awards for loyalty but is certainly an improvement. You're definitely better than Fulham and Derby, so I guess it's down to you, Sunderland and Bolton to battle to avoid that last relegation spot.

*Who will win the league?

Manchester United unfortunately!

*And the FA cup?

John Terry will be lifting the trophy again come May :-)

*Finally, a score prediction please.

2-0 to the visitors, just like last time.

Many thanks to Dan for taking the time to answer these questions.

Lanzaat Sold

2008-01-25T16:06:00.000Z

Wigan Athletic midfielder Denny Landzaat has moved to Rotterdam club Feyenoord today for an undisclosed fee (rumoured to be up to £1million).

Feyenoord general manager Peter Bosz said: "We are delighted to have been able to add another player of this calibre to our squad. In our view, Denny is the kind of player this team needs right now."

Steve Bruce was philosophical about the departure, stating: "I said I didn't particularly want to lose any other players this January

“He has done well for me. But sometimes in football, you have to make difficult decisions and when the offer came in, it was one we decided to accept. He leaves with all our good wishes."

Landzaat flew to Holland late yesterday to thrash out personal terms after the offer from Feyenoord was accepted by Latics.

Landzaat was full of praise for the Latics faithful: "I'd just like to thank the Wigan fans because they have always been good to me. I'm confident the team will do well and survive this season” he said.

Latics Rumour Round-Up: Jan 24th 2008

2008-01-24T21:18:00.000Z

Borussia Monchengladbach’s Ivory Coast international defender, Steve Gohouri, has been linked with Wigan Athletic.

Gohouri is away on international duty at the Africa Cup of Nations and he featured in the win against Nigeria.

Monchengladbach are likely to be unable to resist a big offer for the player.

After Fulham’s failure to seal the deal with Watford for striker Marlon King, Hornets manager Adrian Boothroyd has stated two more Premier League clubs are interested in signing his player. One of these is rumoured to be Latics. Sunderland, Bolton and Middlesbrough have also been linked with the player.

Steve Bruce has told the Evening Post he wants cover for Emile Heskey.
"The attack is the area I would be looking at if I was looking to do something, someone to give us that bit extra,” said Bruce.

"I'm always worried about losing Emile - you could see how light we were when we were without him earlier in the season."

Latics Rumour Round-Up: Jan 23rd 2008

2008-01-23T17:40:00.000Z

Steve Bruce is believed to have offered £2million to Birmingham City for former Juventus winger Olivier Kapo.

Independiente president Julio Comparada says his club have received three offers – one allegedly from Latics - for their 25-year-old striker, German Denis. After finishing top scorer in the Argentinean Apertura tournament with 18 goals in 19 games, he is highly coveted, with West Ham also supposedly interested.

The player's agent, Leo Rodriguez said he has permission from Independiente to negotiate on behalf of his client.

"Denis is going to have his EU passport in June so it will be easier then to transfer him to a European team” he said.

John Brown, agent of Motherwell’s Ross McCormack, reckons Latics and Heart of Midlothian are interested in his client.

"He is free to talk to interested clubs and I have had a chat with Hearts about him as they have been tracking him for some time” he blathered.

Jason Koumas is going nowhere according to Steve Bruce. “I keep reading these stories about Jason. There seems to be something in the papers every day,” said Bruce.

“But I haven’t heard anything from any other club, and I don’t envisage anyone going out.”

Koumas Shenanigans

2008-01-21T19:16:00.000Z

Glasgow Celtic boss Gordon Strachan is rumoured to be lining up a £3.5million bid for Jason Koumas.

He is also allegedly a target for Blackburn Rovers, with whisperings of a deal involving Rover's midfielder Steven Reid being struck.

Video Highlights: Latics 1 - 2 Everton

2008-01-20T18:41:00.000Z

Cause for Concern, Reasons to Hope

2008-01-20T18:30:00.000Z

Some people are saying it’s becoming unsafe to be a supporter of Wigan Athletic, especially at derby games, due to visiting supporters being in the home end. When Everton went 2-0 up today, some supporters became rather pugilistic, and the lady in front of me left, obviously deeming it too dangerous for her and her son to remain inside the ground.

The club itself actively encourages this through it’s associations with Get Me In (see official announcement here) and makes the Latics faithful question the club’s loyalty to it’s supporters when it comes to making a few extra quid through the turnstile. Surely the club must employ someone who cares about the club in the administrative team, not just bumbling moron hangers-on such as Brenda Spencer or Matt McCann. Someone who knows the feelings of the fans.

The players themselves however showed nothing but total commitment to the shirt, and were massively unlucky not to come away with all three points in front of an energized Latics crowd. Playing with such vigour every week will surely see them climb out of danger, and may even see them progress in the FA Cup.

Quote of the day: After the game, a man in Everton colours with the broadest Wigan accent you can imagine was heard to say:

“Liverpool aren’t Liverpool’s real team, their fans are all Cockney’s.”

Erm, ok, ever heard of irony?

Latics secure double signing

2008-01-18T18:30:00.000Z

Latics have secured the long-term services of Erik Edman and Luis Antonio Valencia.

Edman, signed from French club Stade Rennes and capped 53 times for Sweden, is unlikely to get his international clearance through in time to make his debut against Everton this weekend.

"It's not often such experienced left backs become available and I'm not surprised so many other clubs were interested in him” said Bruce.

Latics have not disclosed the transfer fee.

Valencia, who was on loan from Spanish club Villareal, has put pen to paper on a permanent three and a half year contract for an undisclosed fee (believed to be in the region of £3.5million).

"I am really happy this has been sorted,” said Valencia.

"I have always wanted to play in England, and now that Wigan have given me the chance, I am happy to repay them by staying here."

Latics Rumour Round-Up: Jan 16th 2008

2008-01-16T18:58:00.000Z

Latics are close to wrapping up a deal to sign Honduras international Maynor Figueroa on a short-term contract.

The defender has been on trial with Latics in recent weeks and has impressed Steve Bruce sufficiently to be offered a deal.

"We have got Maynor until the end of the season," said Bruce

"It's difficult for a player from Honduras to make an impact in a short trial, but he has done very well and has been desperate to earn a contract."

This will give Latics the luxury of having two left-backs if the signing of Erik Edman is completed.

23 year-old Hibernian left-back David Murphy is apparently a Latics target, with Bolton and Birmingham also competing for his services. It is highly unlikely this report has any substance with the imminent arrivals mentioned above.

Another defender we are linked with is Aston Villa’s Gary Cahill, who has also been has been linked with Bolton, Fulham, Derby and Sunderland.

Porto defender Marek Cech is apparently being watched by Latics and Newcastle United.
Cech himself told Maisfutebol: “I want to be with Porto until the end of the season because we are 11 points clear, we are well placed to be champions and I want to be in the team at the top of the table”.

"We have had an offer from Fulham and we have turned it down," Steve Bruce apparently told the Daily Star about Paul Scharner. It must be true then, if it’s in the Star.

Edman meets Bruce in Rigaletto's

2008-01-16T18:42:00.000Z

Steve Bruce met with Erik Edman this afternoon in Rigaletto’s, the restaurant adjoining The JJB. The Swedish international was discussing a move from French club Rennes, and is expected to sign a two-and-a-half year contract, with the transfer fee thought to be around the £500,000 mark.

This is Latics' second attempt to sign him – we tried in the summer only to find Rennes reluctant sellers, but with the 29-year-old out of contract in the summer, they have decided to cash in now.

Edman has 36 caps for Sweden and has Premier League experience having played for Tottenham Hotspurs in the 2003/04 campaign.

Latics Rumour Round-Up: Jan 15th 2008

2008-01-15T20:35:00.000Z

Fulham boss Roy Hodgson has reportedly spoken to Steve Bruce regarding the availability of Latics’ utility man, Paul Scharner. Fulham may offer an initial £3million, but Bruce won’t be keen to let such a versatile player leave.

Rennes are to allow Erik Edman to leave once they have signed a replacement left-back. This has fuelled the speculation linking him with Latics. According to Rennes general manager Pierre Dreossi, the ex-Spurs defender has been contacted by 'two or three' English clubs. Reports in France claim Latics have agreed a deal that will see the 29-year-old move to The JJB Stadium on a two-and-a-half-year contract.

Reports also suggest Latics may be about to sign Olimpia left-back Maynor Figueroa on a permanent deal. The Honduras international would command a £500,000 fee.

24 year-old Ipswich Town striker Jon Walters has apparently snubbed Latics in favour of staying at Portman Road.

Paul Jewell is keen to take Emmerson Boyce to Pride Park to bolster The Rams ailing defence. Jewell originally signed Boyce for Latics from Crystal Palace for £1million in 2006.

Latics Rumour Round-Up: Jan 14th 2008

2008-01-14T19:45:00.000Z

Steve Bruce is apparently going to stump up 5 million quid for Reading's want-away striker Leroy Lita. That's if you can believe anything the News Of The World says...

Along with Reading and Birmingham City, Latics are supposedly chasing Rennes Swedish international, Erik Edman. As Edman will be a free agent in the summer, Rennes will be keen to cash in during the transfer window.

Glasgow Rangers' Daniel Cousin is on the market for £3million. FansFC have reported this tenuous link.

Ex-Latic Jason Roberts is another player linked with The Blues. Apparently frustrated with his lack of first team action at Ewood Park, he's eyeing up Antoine Sibierski's spot as Heskey's strike partner.

Speaking of Antoine Sibierski, he's turned down an offer from his first ever club, Lille. "Lille contacted me three weeks ago to ask me if I wanted to get back to France," said Sibierski.

"I told them 'no' straight away, I don't want to go back to France. My family are happy living in Manchester and I'm very happy at Wigan."

Having fallen out of favour with Alex McLeish at Birmingham, Steve Bruce is reportedly interested in signing Olivier Kapo for the same fee he paid Juventus whilst in charge of Birmingham: £3million.

MOTD Highlights: Derby 0 - 1 Latics

2008-01-14T08:59:00.000Z

Demolition Derby

2008-01-13T18:10:00.000Z

Steve Bruce is under no illusions about Latics’ plight after his team ground out a 1-0 victory at Pride Park. It’s hard to come to any other conclusion that we are still firmly entrenched within the relegation warzone.

In a high-stakes fixture, the play was often laborious and was ultimately tedious to watch, despite the hope three points would bring to such teams that are struggling at the foot of football’s elite pile.

Paul Jewell fielded five new players in his starting eleven – handing the captain’s armband to debutant Robbie Savage, but Derby still looked nervous from the off, and Latics dominated.

'One goal was going to decide the game,' said Jewell. 'It's always difficult when you put so many new faces in the squad. You have to hope they get by on adrenaline.'

And so Jewell’s prediction proved accurate. Antonio Valencia’s early effort was blocked by Andy Todd after he picked up a loose ball and Marcus Bent spurned a chance from ten yards out after Emile Heskey and Valencia had linked well during a brisk counter-attack to set him up.

After 33 minutes the linesman ruled Heskey to be in an offside position after Micheal Brown’s blocked shot fell to him. He squared the ball to Bent, who fired home, but the raised flag meant Bent wouldn’t add to his seven goal tally this afternoon.

Antonio Valencia smashed a gilt-edged opportunity wide just before half time. The ball ricocheted around the area before falling to him seven yards out and he amazingly thrashed his effort wide.

Derby had their work cut-out in the second half when Claude Davis was sent off in the 57th minute. Having been booked in the first half, he led with his arm in an aerial battle with Bent and struck him on the back of the head. Referee Mark Clattenburg had no option but to reach for a second yellow, and Davis, after a moments remonstration, trudged from the field for an early bath.

Click to Enlarge

Latics struggled to make their numerical advantage count and the game looked like it would peter out until Steve Bruce brought on Antoine Sibierski to enhance Latic’s attacking options. With his first touch he drove Bent’s header beyond the despairing dive of Lewis Price into the bottom left-hand corner of the net, to send the Latics travelling support into ecstatic waves of relief.

Steve Bruce: 'We should have been out of sight in the first half. It's one of those games when you're thinking: "Are they going to break away and score?" Thankfully, we didn't get punished and the better team won.'

Derby: Price, Mears, Davis, Todd, Mills, Fagan, Savage, Ghaly (Macken 85), Robert (Edworthy 59), Villa (Teale 71), Barnes.
Subs Not Used: Hinchliffe, Lewis.

Sent Off: Davis (58).

Booked: Davis.

Latics: Kirkland, Melchiot, Bramble, Boyce, Kilbane, Valencia, Brown, Palacios (Koumas 64), Landzaat (Sibierski 81), Heskey, Bent (Olembe 90).
Subs Not Used: Pollitt, Aghahowa.

Booked: Brown, Boyce.

Goal: Sibierski 82.

Att: 31,658

Ref: Mark Clattenburg (Tyne & Wear).

The Magic of the Cup returns

2008-01-07T20:39:00.000Z

“I can honestly say the FA Cup made my career, I know what it meant to me and it’s pretty sad that people look at it differently now. But if somebody like Dave Kitson was fortunate enough to play in a final he would understand that it does mean something. When you reach the stage when you put on your slippers, you will look back and FA Cup memories make your career what it is. If you are lucky enough to win it, then that is up there as the finest achievement and greatest occasion of your career. The final and the build-up with the world watching is all wonderful. Not that long ago, it was probably more important than winning the League.” – Steve Bruce

“We are not going to win the FA Cup and I do not give two shits about it, to be honest. I care about staying in the Premier League, as does everybody at this club. Our Premier League status is not protected by winning the FA Cup and it is a simple as that. It is a fantastic competition and perhaps one day we will be in a position where we can compete for it but not now.” - Reading striker Dave Kitson.

The last time I got myself so excited about the FA Cup was immediately prior to a second round game at Springfield Park against Scarborough many moons ago (a game we won 1-0). Today I spent quarter of an hour huddled up against a radio at work, waiting to see the fate those numbered balls had in store for us in the fourth round.

Football’s continued (yet understandable) obsession with the lucrative Premier League, combined with football television overkill (our fourth round tie against Chelsea is on the BBC on January 26th, KO 5.15), have contrived to strip some of the gloss from the World’s most prestigious club knock-out competition.

Steve Bruce however has stated his love for The Cup, and although fielding a slightly weakened side for the win at Sunderland, with one eye on Premier League survival, must feel that Latics have a chance of winning their way to the final. With a strong squad, and other teams ambivalence towards the competition, it is a realistic vision, and one that as a Wigan Athletic supporter, I am happy to share. All we need to do now, is beat Chelsea.

Misogynistic Spud-head or Managerial Genius?

2007-11-24T01:45:00.000Z

"If we're not careful, we'll be playing in high heels and skirts and playing netball."

- Steve Bruce

With Steve Bruce's acrimonious departure from Birmingham City now complete, and Latics chairman Dave Whelan explaining it all away as "two women having a fall-out" (Brenda Spencer and Karren Brady), it is now all down to the potato headed Bruce to drag Latics from the mire in which they find themselves.

Bruce, unpopular with many Latics fans after showing the door to Roberto Martinez and nine other players before deciding we were merely a stepping stone for his ambitions and ditching us for Crystal Palace, will return £250,000 in image rights to Birmingham City and Bernard Cribbins.

Reportedly on a handsome £40,000 a week at his new club, this shouldn't dent his bank balance too badly, but he will need to conjure a sharp turn in Latics fortunes in order to sway the doubters amongst the clubs' supporters.

And these doubters have a point. Explaining away his exit from the club the first time as being down to his wife wanting to live in London, it begs the question: Why is he back in Wigan? And since when has a man whose view of women is straight from the Mike Newell stable of misogyny, ever taken a female's feelings into account on his single-minded drive to Premier League management?

He will watch Saturday's match at Arsenal from the stands, and from there will be able to witness the monumental task ahead of him in order to repay Whelan's faith, and convince those who think he is not up to scratch.

Online Pro-Evolution Soccer League

2007-09-18T22:41:00.000+01:00

We have been contacted to plug a spanking new online Pro-Evolution Soccer League, which we have been told is being run for players who want to have fun.

Thankfully for us at PARALATIC (who will be entering a team) rubbish players are encouraged to join as it’s all about enjoyment.

The organizers are local men of high standing, but stress that the league is open to supporters of any team, from Latics to Leicester to Liverpool to Leigh RMI.

Please visit their website at this link: www.pro-evo-league.co.nr

The £50,000 Pair of Boots

2007-09-18T22:30:00.000+01:00

Dave Whelan today questioned why the well-off Pascal Chimbonda needed an £18,000 loan from his agent Willie McKay when he moved from Latics to Tottenham in 2006.

Chimbonda, 28, was questioned by City of London police last week on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud and bailed until October.

The police are anxious to establish that any loans paid to players are not for the purpose of avoiding tax because loans are not taxable.

Yet Chimbonda talked Whelan into loaning him £50,000 for a pair of boots (and a car – Ed) when he initially signed from Bastia in 2005.

"Chimbonda told me he was skint and wanted a loan” said Whelan, "we are a football club, not a bank and I said I didn't loan players money.

"But he wanted to buy a car and didn't have a decent pair of boots, [so] we organised a bank loan of £50,000 for him, with a warranty that the money would come out of his wages if he didn't pay it back.

"He paid the bank, as far as I know, and we just guaranteed it."

Chimbonda went on to sign a new, improved contract at Latics before his £4.5m switch to White Hart Lane.

"I can't believe Chimbonda would have needed another loan," said Whelan.

His totally above-board agent, Mr. Willie “Totally-Above-Board” McKay said: "I have done this before for many of my players if they are short. If it was underhand why would I give him a cheque from my bank account?"

Wigan Athletic v Fulham Preview

2007-09-14T17:50:00.000+01:00

Fulham travel to the JJB tomorrow (Saturday) looking for their first away win this season, whilst Latics have not yet lost at home.

Kevin Kilbane is banned for this game only after his dismissal at Newcastle.

Recent signing Salomon Olembe is not yet fully match-fit. Antonio Valencia (knee) and Denny Landzaat (fractured eye socket) are also out.

Defender Aaron Hughes is set to make his debut for Fulham after an ankle injury.

Striker David Healy should start for the visitors and new signings Danny Murphy, Seol Ki-Hyeon and Shefki Kuqi are expected to be on the bench.

Recent talk has all been about Emile Heskey’s excellent performances for England, but other teams should beware that Latics don’t utilize him as England do, with Hutchings trusting to Heskey’s other skills, rather than simply using him as a holding player.

Indeed, in this vein, Fulham manager Lawrie Sanchez said of the England Striker: "I have always liked Emile, I think he has been given a hard time but it is nice to see an English team whack the ball up to a centre-forward to head down for the little striker to score”.

Latics (from): Kirkland, Melchiot, Granqvist, Bramble, Boyce, Brown, Scharner, Koumas, Sibierski, Heskey, Skoko, Bent, Aghahowa, Bouaouzan, Cotterill, Hall, Olembe, Pollitt.

Fulham (from): Niemi, Warner, Keller, Volz, Baird, Stefanovic, Bocanegra, Hughes, Davis, Smertin, Murphy, Seol, Davies, Healy, Dempsey, Konchesky, Kamara, John, Kuqi.

Referee: Rob Styles (Waterlooville, Hampshire)

History

Fulham started its existence in 1879 as Fulham St Andrew's Church Sunday School, founded by worshippers at the C of E church on Star Road, West Kensington, which still stands today with a plaque commemorating the team's foundation. They won the West London Amateur Cup in 1887 and, having shortened the name to its present form in 1888, they then won the West London League in 1893 at the first attempt. One of the club's first ever kits was half red, half white shirts with white shorts worn in the 1886-7 season.[3] Fulham started playing at their current ground Craven Cottage in 1896, their first game against now defunct rivals Minerva F.C.

Latics' Rachid Bouaouzan in Action

2007-09-02T02:15:00.000+01:00

Here's a video of our new signing Rachid Bouaouzan in action for Sparta Rotterdam.

Bouaouzan gained notoriety in Holland when he broke the right leg of striker Niels Kokmeijer in a first division game in December 2004 (seen in this video).

Kokmeijer, then with Go Ahead Eagles, suffered multiple fractures and was forced to retire from the game. Bouaouzan was suspended for the rest of the season by Sparta, a sentence greater than the 10-game penalty handed down by KNVB, Dutch football's governing body.

However, in an unprecedented move, Bouaouzan was taken to court by the Dutch government and Kokmeijer on a charge of battery. In August 2005, he was found guilty and received a suspended six-month jail sentence and ordered to serve 200 hours of community service.

Thanks to Handsome Jimmy Bullard for finding this, and well done Chris Hutchings for signing a tackling midfielder. Bravo!

Transfer Day Round-up

2007-09-01T00:20:00.000+01:00

Latics have signed Marcus Bent on a season's loan from Charlton Athletic.

We are the 10th club of Bent's career, which includes spells at Blackburn Rovers, Ipswich Town, Leicester City, Everton and Charlton.

After a £2.5million move from Everton in January last year, he scored just five goals in 52 appearances.

Hutchings, though, feels Bent's experience will prove invaluable and is delighted with his ninth signing of the summer.

"It's a great deal. We've got him on loan, which is a convenient arrangement for us" said Hutchings. "Marcus has played the majority of his career in the top flight, he's been there and done it, and knows how to look after himself at this level.

"He is a clever player who can fulfil a number of roles and whose game is far more than just about scoring. He's lively and brings others into play. He's a street-wise sort of player, who never gives any less than 100 per cent and is one of those lads you want on your side.

"I've always said that I'll only bring in players who I think will add a new dimension to the squad and I think Marcus fits the bill."

The arrival of Bent has allowed Latics to sell Caleb Folan to Hull City for a Tigers club record of £1m, with the 23-year-old signing a three-year contract. Folan spent a month on loan with the Tigers in 2001, but without making a first-team start. Folan joined Latics in January for £500,000 from Chesterfield, scoring twice in 16 appearances.

Dutch winger Rachid Bouaouzan has joined Latics from Sparta Rotterdam for an undisclosed fee.

The 23-year-old has signed a three-year contract at the JJB.

Chris Hutchings said: "I know he has been chased by several clubs, so I am delighted he has chosen to join us.

"He has bags of potential and exactly what it takes to be a success in this country. We were very keen to get him on board."

Bouaouzan, who is of Moroccan descent, was apparently persuaded to join Latics after speaking with Mario Melchiot and Denny Landzaat.

19 year-old striker Jonathan Smith has been released by Latics to be snapped up by Aberdeen on a one-year deal.

Henri Camara has joined West Ham United on a year long loan with a view to a permanent move. "If I don't get another chance, I'd like to thank all the Wigan Athletic supporters and the staff at the club who have made this a special two years for me. Let's see what the future holds in store!" said Camara

If Music Be The Food Of Love.......

2007-08-21T19:58:00.000+01:00

Here is a nice ditty about the Super Latics that's been knocking around for a couple of months, for those of you that haven't heard it.

Latics v Sunderland Preview

2007-08-17T20:54:00.000+01:00

"We've played more good football in the last 45 minutes than for most of last season" said the wise man sat behind me on Wednesday. He had a point, and it's up to Latics to reinforce that point by continuing where they left off in the defeat of Middlesbrough.

Sunderland are tomorrows opponents, managed by the lovable Roy Keane. Roy was a little overweight when he was younger; below is a video of him at the funfair with his auntie Janice. Make sure you turn up the sound so you can hear his sexy Irish brogue.

Tickets are available on the day for home fans.

Michael Brown is available for Latics after serving his suspension but Emmerson Boyce is still out injured.

Sunderland winger Carlos Edwards is out for a month with a hamstring injury, joining Grant Leadbitter (hamstring) on the sidelines.

Stern John is pressing for a start, while Kieron Richardson and Dwight Yorke could also return

Latics (from): Kirkland, Melchiot, Bramble, Granqvist, Kilbane, Valencia, Scharner, Landzaat, Koumas, Heskey, Folan, Sibierski, Hall, Skoko, Aghahowa, Camara, Brown, Pollitt.

Sunderland (from): Gordon, Halford, Wallace, Nosworthy, McShane, Richardson, Etuhu, Whitehead, Edwards, Stokes, Chopra, Ward, Anderson, Collins, Miller, Kay, Yorke, John, Murphy, O'Donovan.

Referee: Mike Riley (Leeds)

Brown turns Blue.....

2007-07-31T19:41:00.001+01:00

Michael Brown this morning completed his long awaited move to the JJB. Michael has signed a 3 year deal for a reported £3.1 million.

The transfer of Brown from Fulham has taken an age - or so it seems, with both player and club finally agreeing terms late last night, paving the way for Brown to complete a medical and sign on the dotted line this morning.

Hutchings was delighted to finally net his man, speaking to the Official Website he said: "We have worked really hard behind the scenes to make this one happen because i believe he will make a big difference to the side and i am really happy Michael has agreed to join us.

Brown is Manager Chris Hutchings seventh signing making it a blockbuster of a summer on the buying front for the Latics. One is really starting to wonder if we will hit double figures on the transfer front as we are still constantly being linked with players. We here at Paralatic say "BRING IT ON"!!

Maurice is Poorly

2007-07-30T21:39:00.000+01:00

Maurice Lindsay is on the tablets after watching his chimps get stuffed by a pub team.

"I am 66 and, as many people know, my health has suffered in the last couple of years," he said.

"My doctor has constantly stressed to me that I should take more care of my health. Therefore, it probably needs someone else to take the club forward for the next 10 years."

With this in mind he has decided to step down from the egg's board at the end of the season, although no word has been forthcoming about him jumping off the Latics gravytrain after he smugly belittled us in the past.

After confidently predicting Wigan Warriors would take 35-40,000 fans to the new Wembley for the challenge cup final, he was conspicuous by his absence when the BBC were interviewing the gallant losers on Sunday afternoon.

Get well soon Maurice!!

R.I.P. Alf Craig

2007-07-30T21:19:00.000+01:00

It is with sadness that we bring you the news that former Latics player/manager Alf Craig has passed away.

He signed for Latics in 1964 and made 126 league appearances. He also scored "The Goal That Never Was" against Tranmere Rovers in a first round FA cup encounter in 1966. In the dying seconds with Latics trailing 1-0, Alf released a thunderbolt which flew into the Rovers net, only for the referee to disallow it, blowing for full time as the ball flew towards the goal.

Alf also held a player-manager position from November 1966 to March 1967. He didn't enjoy this post however and resigned after agreeing with the board to be assistant manager to the next boss (Harry Leyland).

Credit to Latics official site for providing this in-depth tribute to a Latics legend.

Thank goodness for the fan sites like Ye Olde Tree And Crown.

Rest in peace Alf.

Baines snubs persistent Keane

2007-07-26T00:34:00.000+01:00

Leighton Baines has today snubbed the efforts of Sunderland's Roy Keane bid to bring him to the JJB after a reported £6 million bid had been tabled by the black cats.

Baines had been given permission by Latics to speak to Sunderland but after talks, the deal was not done and he has decided to stay at the JJB(for the time being). Everton are still reported to be tacking the U-21 star but are only willing to offer a sum in the region of £4 miilion.

Elsewhere it looks like the Michael (gnasher)Brown transfer may finally be resolved in the next 2 - 3 days with the player reportedly agreeing personal terms with the club for his move up north. Living accomodation was apparently important for Brown so the top floor flat at Douglas house in Scholes was ideal. Hope you settle in well Michael.

Race for Brown almost won..

2007-07-22T15:23:00.000+01:00

Wigan Athletic are one step closer to signing Michael Brown from Fulham. This particular transfer target seems to have been rumbling along for some time now. But it is now reported that Michael has had a medical at the JJB and is keen to agree personal terms with the Latics.

It is reported that Wigan have made a £2.5 million bid for the 30 yr old midfielder who is becoming increasingly frustrated at the lack of games for the London club.

Elsewhere on the rumour mill Chris Hutchings is said to be keen on bringing Lomana Lua Lua to the JJB after the bizarre switch in elegance of Marlon turncoat Harewood signing for Villa. Lua Lua seems to be dropping down the pecking order at current club Portsmouth and therfore a move North may well suit him.

Also, Mr Keane just dosen't know when to give up, apparently Leighton Baines was yesterday reportedly on his way up to Sunderland to hold transfer talks with the powers that be at the Stadium of Light. No fee for the young left-back has been agreed between the two clubs but a fee in the region of £5.5 million is believed to be wanted by Wigan. We here at Paralatic have just one thing to say to Mr Keane -HANDS OFF - I thought you didn't like scousers anyway!!!!!!!!!

Latics All-Stars Require Hot Talent

2007-07-20T16:46:00.000+01:00

Latics All-Stars require hot nubile young men to join their half-time dance troupe.

Interested hot sexy young men should ring Latics and ask for Maurice for a personal audition.

Harewood move/Baines speculation

2007-07-17T18:21:00.001+01:00

Marlon Harewood has forsaken Wigan Athletic for the delights of Villa Park. He signs for Aston Villa from West Ham United for an undisclosed fee (rumoured to be around £3.5 million).

"If he can recapture the form he showed in the two seasons before last, he will definitely be a big asset" said Villa manager Martin O'Neill.

Meanwhile, Roy Keane's tenacity as a player is resurfacing in his tenure as manager of Sunderland as he, once again, is on the tail of Latics star Leighton Baines.

He has already had three bids for Latic's 22 year-old full-back rejected, but like a dog with a bone, he just won't let go.

"Just because a club says a player is not for sale - if that was the case, nobody would ever move club" said Keane.

"I am sure Everton told Manchester United Wayne Rooney was not for sale, but they got him, so we will see."

Jewell at Leeds/Johansson Leaves

2007-07-16T18:36:00.000+01:00

Reports in Yorkshire claim a wealthy business consortium, want Paul Jewell as manager should they take charge of Leeds United.

It's understood they see Jewell as the ideal man to come in and revive Leeds' fortunes. It's a challenge Jewell may fancy - he is based in neighbouring Ilkley and has vowed to be back once he is refreshed after taking a break.

Andreas Johansson has been released from his Latics contract with one year still remaining on it and he is expected to move to Danish team Aalborg.

PARALATIC gazumped by Vital Football

2007-07-16T18:20:00.000+01:00

They nicked our headline. Swines.

You can read their marvellous article here.

Marlon Harewood has not joined the Latics squad in Holland, and reports suggest that he is in talks with Aston Villa after they matched West Ham's asking price, regarding his footballing future.

Harewood's agent Mick McGuire said "We are currently in talks with Aston Villa after they agreed a fee with West Ham, If the talks go well he will then undergo a medical as normal.

"As we know Wigan have made a bid for Marlon and talked to him also.

"Now it is down to Marlon to make a decision on where he goes."

Harewood set to become a Latic..

2007-07-14T11:59:00.001+01:00

Marlon Harewood looks all set to be Wigan manager Chris Hutchings seventh signing of the summer. Reports are that Marlon had his extensive medical at the JJB yesterday and now looks to put pen to paper and join the Wigan outfit in a reported £4 million deal.

Hutchings was looking to strengthen his attack after the sale of Lee McCulloch to rangers this week. As soon as the deal is done Mr Harewood will join his new team mates at their summer training camp in Holland.

Miss Wigan Athletic 2007: Winner Revealed.

2007-07-13T00:07:00.001+01:00

Stephanie Angleterre

Stephanie says: "I am really happy to win, I want to help make the world a better place by helping blind orphans and saving the whales. I think everyone in the world should just get along and be nice to each other. George Bush and Osama bin Laden should come round to my house for a nice cup of tea and stop fighting".

Stephanie likes Bunny Rabbits, Clouds, Flowers, Bacardi Breezers, Anal Sex and Opium.

Camara Touted Around

2007-07-12T18:33:00.000+01:00

Football agent Mamadou Cherif is creating waves on the football pond by offering the services of some of his wares, namely our very own Henri Camara.

He has told a Senagalese website that Blackburn Rovers and Fulham are interested in the international striker in an attempt to engineer a profitable move away from the JJB.

"There is one club who have made an offer which is Fulham, but Wigan haven't responded and it doesn't please us much either," said Cherif.

"I am working on two trails: Portsmouth and Blackburn."

Have Latics gazumped Birmingham?

2007-07-12T18:23:00.000+01:00

After passing a medical at Birmingham City yesterday, it appears that Marlon Harewood may now be on his way to Wigan Athletic after Latics boss Chris Hutchings tabled a £3.7 million bid for the West Ham striker.

Alan Curbishley has recently splashed out £7.5 million for Craig Bellamy meaning that Harewood is surplus to requirements at Upton Park.

Everton in for Baines?

2007-07-11T17:48:00.000+01:00

Everton are believed to be about to make an offer for the £6 million rated Leighton Baines.

After the latest offer from Sunderland for Baines was rebuffed, Latics boss Chris Hutchings was insistent the full-back would not be leaving.

"I have told Roy Keane that Leighton is not for sale, he is part of this club," said Hutchings.

"Everyone does have a price, but I am happy to keep him as I am building a team".

Latics Sell McCulloch and Hope to Sign Marlon

2007-07-11T17:36:00.000+01:00

Lee McCulloch has completed his transfer to Glasgow Rangers and has signed a four year deal after holding talks yesterday..

The agreed fee is undisclosed, but is widely touted around the internet to be between £2-2.5 million.
"I'm delighted to be coming to such a massive club, a club with ambition and a club with tradition," said McCulloch,

"It really is brilliant and one of the best days of my life. I'm here to play for the badge. I had hoped I would get the move in January but Wigan wouldn't budge. But that's all in the past now because the most important thing is that I have signed here now,"

"Walter Smith and Ally McCoist were great with me during their period with Scotland and the fact they wanted to bring me here is fantastic."

Meanwhile, Latics boss Chris Hutchings hopes chairman Dave Whelan's comments about the Carlos Tevez affair will not affect his plans to acquire the services of Hammers forward Marlon Harewood.

"What happened is in the past, you can't look back" said Hutchings.

"We've shown an interest in Marlon and that is ongoing".

Kool Kool Koumas Signs for Latics..

2007-07-10T19:47:00.000+01:00

Wigan Athletic finally got their man today. Securing the signing of 27yr old Welsh International Jason Koumas for a fee reported to be around £5.3 million.

Koumas is now new manager Chris Hutchings sixth signing of the summer and all seems to be going well on the intake front at the JJB. The former West Brom ace completed his move from The Baggies to Wigan today after what appears to be a rather drawn out saga between the two clubs after West Brom appeared to be trying to make the most of cashing in on the Koumas deal.

After Wigan's lofty bid was accepted, Koumas jumped at the chance to sign and is looking to repay Chris Hutchings' faith in him. "I'm delighted it's all done now and I can look forward to playing in the Premiership," he told Sky Sports News. "It's where I've wanted to be for a while so I can prove what I can do. It's all about playing in the Premiership.
"I'm at an age now where I need to be playing there. Wigan have given me the chance to come here and do well.
"Wigan is a great move for me. They've paid a lot of money for me, so I can't wait to get started and repay the faith the manager has shown.

Harewood and Brown may have the Blues....

2007-07-07T20:59:00.000+01:00

The title may sound more like a new sponsor for the JJB billboards but it is reported that Chris Hutchings is very close to signing Marlon Harewood from West Ham United and Michael Gnasher Brown from Fulham.

The Guardian and Daily Mail have reported that Mr Brown was meeting with the powers that be at the JJB to tie up the deal and make his move North from the London Club. Brown has been a target of the Latics for some time now, who was reported to be tracking him while he was at Tottenham but missed out after he chose Fulham(of all clubs). Silly boy!!.

The Wigan manager has also stepped up his chase for another striker, with a £3.2million offer for Marlon Harewood being rumoured. Like Brown, he has been long admired by the Latics, and the Guardian are claiming Wigan are winning the race to sign the West Ham

strikeg, who has also been linked with Birmingham, Aston Villa and Manchester City to name a few.

Will he stay or will he go now.....

2007-07-07T20:44:00.000+01:00

Sunderland have today upped their efforts to land our lovable left back Leighton Baines. It seems that Bainsey is hot property and Sunderland have today raised the stakes in landing the U21 star with a reported £5,000 000 bid.

With two previous bids tabled by Mr Keane knocked back by Wigan, the coffers could well be quaffed for Mr Hutchings if the Latics decide the new bid is too much too resist.

Leighton is a big favourite at Wigan and holds the record for most first team appearances in the Premiership. He will be sadly be missed if the Chairman and club decide to sell.

Skoko stays....

2007-07-03T22:08:00.000+01:00

Josip Skoko today ended any speculation of leaving the JJB after putting pen to paper and signing a new 1 year deal at the club.

The 31yr old's future was in doubt when he was reported to be stalling on signing the new deal offered by new manager Chris Hutchings. Although the deal is subject to a work permit that has been applied for but this is not thought to be a problem.

No further news/speculation is currently being banded about across the VPN's of the world wide web although no doubt further links to players will appear in the next 24 hours.

The race for Jase heats up...

2007-07-02T16:25:00.000+01:00

The race to sign West Brom midfielder Jason Koumas hots up for Chris Hutchings and Wigan Athletic. It is reported that the Latics are set to increase their offer to get their man sooner rather than later.

West Brom missed out on promotion to the Premier League last season, making it ever more likely that Koumas would leave.

Latics boss Chris Hutchings is still confident of signing Koumas and says the situation is on-going.
"We made a substantial bid for Jason Koumas which was rejected - but our efforts are still alive," Hutchings told the Wigan Evening Post.

Latest Tenuous Links

2007-07-01T23:48:00.000+01:00

Svetoslav Todorov (after he rejected Portsmouth's new contract offer because he was not happy with the terms of the one-year extension with a further year depending on appearances).

Andy Todd (after being released by Blackburn Rovers with a year still left to run on his contract).

McCulloch Fee Agreed

2007-06-30T22:31:00.000+01:00

Glasgow Rangers and Wigan Athletic have agreed on a £2.5 million fee for Lee McCulloch according to the Manchester Evening News.

Latics' boss Chris Hutchings apparently doesn't want McCulloch to leave, but Big Lee has set his sights on a move to the club he supported as a boy.

Arjan de Zeeuw has signed for Coventry City after being released by Latics at the end of last season.

Rumours Rounded-up

2007-06-28T21:55:00.000+01:00

Leighton Baines is going nowhere.

"Baines has told me he is happy to stay and I am certainly not looking to sell him" said Latics manager Chris Hutchings.

Nathan Ellington will not be coming back.

"I am not sure about bringing players back for a second spell. We will not be pursuing this" said Hutchings.

West Brom have apparently accepted a bid for Jason Koumas. What the bid actually is, or if there's any truth at all in this is anyone's guess.

Boudewijn Zenden is being targeted as a replacement for Lee McCulloch, who is on his way to Glasgow Rangers for £2.5 million.

Henri Camara could be moving to Blackburn Rovers in a straight swap for the gorgeous Robbie Savage. MWAH!

You have to be FRANK about it...

2007-06-27T19:20:00.000+01:00

Chris Hutchings has finally got his man. Frank Barlow has joined the team and become No2 to the Hutchmeister. Frank was said to be flattered and excited when offered the prestigious role.

Speaking earlier today he also said "I cannot wait to meet all the players in pre-season training",which apparently starts tomorrow. Hutchings told Wigan's website: "I'm very excited about working with him, he was always my first choice and will bring fresh ideas.
"I need someone I can trust implicitly when it comes to football knowledge, you can't get more experience than he's got, he knows players inside-out."

Frank has a wealth of knowledge about the game and has been tried and tested at many clubs and could prove to be the vital ingredient in the latics coaching staff for that winning mentality. And if you believe that you should go ahead and book your first session with your local psychiatrist.

Nash Potatoes

2007-06-27T18:48:00.001+01:00

Well, Latics official site went with "Nash Landing" and "Nash Wednesday", so I thought I'd come up with a similarly shit headline. Who does the official site?

Jesus.

That was an exclamation, not an answer to the question. The question was rhetorical.

GOD: "Atheism is the only true religion"
MAN: "I don't believe you"

What was the reason I started this story? I can't remember.

Oh yeah, we've signed the perma-tanned Carlo Nash on a two year deal.

Rumours and Whispers

2007-06-22T14:21:00.000+01:00

Sunderland are the latest club linked to Leighton Baines, along with Newcastle, Everton and Aston Villa.

Everton forward James Beattie has apparently tried David Moyes patience a little too far, (with not, who can say, perhaps he farts too much in the team bath) and Latics are rumoured to be considering a £2 million swoop.

Locomotiv Moscow's Scottish international striker Garry O'Connor, a target of Birmingham City and West Ham, is reportedly worth a Latics bid of £2.5 million.

Feyenoord have expressed an interest in Denny Landzaat as new coach Bert van Marwijk looks to take his team to a higher level.

Wigan Athletic - Female Oppressors

2007-06-20T23:06:00.000+01:00

Man is not the enemy here, but the fellow victim. The real enemy is women's denigration of themselves.

Betty Friedan (1921-2006)

After so many women have fought so hard to rectify the cultural, political and economic practises and inequalities that discriminate against women, it is saddening to see so many naive girls entering the "Miss Wigan Athletic" competition in the Wigan Observer.

In the bastion of manhood that is the JJB, some may find it surprising to find club secretary Brenda Spencer on the competition's judging panel. Ardent Wigan Athletic supporters however, will not.

What may be dismissed by some as "a bit of fun", will also go some way to eroding the intellectual work done by Gloria Steinem, Betty Friedan and Naomi Wolf (amongst others), that argued against female stereotyping, sexual objectification and gender oppression.

No doubt some of the girls entering the competition will at some point during their lives, complain about sexual inequality. Will they think back and remember this time in their lives as a time when they actively contributed to their own exploitation in a patriarchal system which devalues women and the substantial work that they do?

Not all the blame can be laid at the door of the contestants however. The powers that be at Wigan Athletic hold this competition every year, and for that, they should hang their heads in shame.

Granqvist signs on for Latics

2007-06-19T21:34:00.000+01:00

Andreas Granqvist became Chris Hutchings fourth summer signing today after agreeing an undisclosed fee and personal terms with the club.

Andreas, although only making one first team appearance has impressed the management and staff both in the reserves and in training. Chris Hutchings gave comment today, he said: "There was a lot of interest in Andreas, which is why I wanted to get this done quickly. "Andreas has got bags of potential and I think he has the ability to make a real impact in the Premiership.
"He's good technically, he's strong and powerful and has pace, now it's up to us to make sure we harness that potential and turn him into a Premier League regular." Hutchings has also hinted at wanting at another 3 - 4 players at least. Bring it on Chris.

Whelan wants more players

2007-06-15T16:16:00.000+01:00

Latics chairman Dave Whelan has said he wants three more players before the start of the season in order to consolidate Latics as a Premier League team.

"We've started early and we've signed what I feel are three very, very good players and we've got another three signings to go," said big Dave in his inimitable style.

"We've got to have a squad. The ambition is to stabilise in this division and then move into Europe.

"It's players who Chris and John Ballbag Benson have come up with and so far they have come up with some quality players.

"I'm encouraging them and saying let's go out and let's get Wigan Athletic recognised as being a force in the Premier League.

"You know what the football market is like, there's so many rumours going round it.

"We are looking and we are in the market big style."

Big style? FFS.

Super Mario (predictable headlines inc.)

2007-06-15T16:10:00.000+01:00

It seems the old boys network is working in Latics' favour as new signing Mario Melchiot revealed he signed after talking to a couple of old mates.

"I know Emile Heskey very well from my time at Birmingham and Denny Landzaat from my days at Ajax and through the national team, and they both told me what a great club this was to be at," said Melchiot.

"I had a lot of choices on the table and it is difficult to make up your mind when so many people want you.

"But you know, sometimes it boils down to just how much effort someone puts in to get you, and when I saw how hard Wigan pushed, I was very impressed with that".

Wigan kick off the season away to Everton....

2007-06-14T19:42:00.000+01:00

It's that time of the year again. Eagerly anticipated in every football fan's calendar - Fixture release day. Once again we have been drawn away in our first game of the new camapaign. I just hope that the nailbiting dosen't last until our final game of the season which sees the latics host Manchester United.

Chris Hutchings commented after seeing the fixtures "I am pleased with the forthcoming fixture list list for the new season and cannot wait to get started with the players".

"But having said that, we have avoided the really big boys early on, so we are confident we can make a good start."

"Everton will be a tough game, as every game will be , but it is a ground where we have done well the past two seasons and will go full of confidence. Following that, we have two home games in quick succession and we'll be looking for points there, too, against Middlesbrough and Sunderland. Then we've got West Ham, somewhere we have won three seasons in a row."

"I know we'll be well prepared, and go into those games with the right frame of mind. When you see the fixtures, it gives you the taste for matches again, reminds you why you're here, and now I can't wait to get going and start pre-season."

For a full listing of all the forthcoming season fixtures please follow the link below : -

http://www.wiganlatics.premiumtv.co.uk/page/Fixtures/0,,10429,00.html

**Please be aware that all fixtures are subject to change due to televised games and cup run's etc.**

Get the new fixtures - direct to your mobile!

2007-06-12T19:36:00.000+01:00

One of the most eagerly awaited events in the domestic football calendar takes place on Thursday - the release of next season's fixture lists.

And as usual we'll be bringing all Latics fans the big news as soon as it's available on Thursday 14th June. But for those of you that won't be near a computer that day, you can have the biggest fixtures delivered straight to your mobile phone.

Here's what you can expect to receive:

- Our first four fixtures of the season
- The dates we're playing Bolton Wanderers
- And who we've got on the last day of the season

So to have the main fixture dates delivered directly to your phone via SMS, simply text CLUB WIGAN to 88442 and you'll be among the first to know where we're starting next season.

Once you have registered, Wigan Athletic reserve the right to text you repeatedly with any old shite, and charge you 25p for the privelege. Each time.

Better re-mortgage the house, now.

Rumour and News Roundup

2007-06-12T17:15:00.000+01:00

Well it looks like we are managing to hold on to Leighton Baines(for now). It has today been announced that Newcastle United have given up in the chase to sign the U-21 Wigan star. This is due to the fact that Chris Hutchings has put a price tag on the defender of around 5 million pounds. Leighton travelled to Holland with the England U-21 squad and played the 90 minutes last night in the 0 - draw against the fiesty czech's.

Further to our earlier reports of the Latics chasing defender Mario Melchiot...... It was reported that the Wigan boss Chris Hutchings has cooled off his interest in the Rennes star after it was thought he was demanding a 3 year deal to seal the move to the JJB. However, the former Birmingham and Chelsea stalwart spent last season with Rennes but is keen to quit France for a return to the Premiership. He has returned from Holland's tour of South Korea and Thailand and was set to hold talks with Hutchings today(Tuesday).

And Finally.........

After the massive response we had from our last transfer rumour bulletin regarding the loveable Two Teeth Tommy, we can confirm that due to the amount of fan mail Tommy received (of which he thanks you all from the bottom of his cavities), Tommy has also put forward his brother(pictured below) for a vacancy at the JJB. It is rumoured that he will be going for the position of chief Pie taster. Tommy's brother (fat faced freddie) is considered to be an expert in the field of greed. It is thought his favourite dish is Hairy Pie, a delecacy among the East stand massive at the JJB. We wish Freddie all the best in his pursuit of the vacancy and keep piling on the pounds pork chop.

Whelan Sells JJB Stake

2007-06-09T20:56:00.000+01:00

Latics chairman Dave Whelan has sold his stake in the JJB Sports company he founded for £190million.

"Retiring from the board and selling my stake in the business I founded has not been an easy decision," said Whelan.

"But it has been made easier by my confidence in the management team. I wish the company every success."

He has sold the Whelan family stake of 29% to a joint venture formed by Icelandic financial group Exista and Chris Ronnie.

Hutchings continues player search.

2007-06-09T20:41:00.000+01:00

Fulham have reportedly turned down an undisclosed bid from Wigan Athletic for midfielder and captain Michael Brown.

It is thought Latics boss Chris Hutchings may have offered up to £1.5 Million as he strives to improve his squad for the coming season.

Brown, who joined the Cottagers from Tottenham in January 2006, was an integral part of the Fulham side last season as he made 34 Premiership appearances.

Roy Carroll is also believed to be on the Latics wish list as a back-up/competitor for the sometimes fragile Chris Kirkland.

"We are looking to bring another keeper in," Hutchings said in The Sun. "We need competition all over the park."

Henri Camara is still being linked with Portsmouth and Pompey boss Harry Redknapp admits he is a fan of the Senegalese striker.

"I like Henri Camara but where can you find a striker who is going to guarantee you goals?" said Redknapp.

"If you don't score goals you don't win. That's why they are so valuable.

"We've looked at players in France, but they are not prolific. We're all looking for strikers. The hard bit's finding them."

Hutchings is preparing a £1.5 million bid for Spurs midfielder Danny Murphy according to the Daily Mail. (So it must be true).

Murphy has been linked with a move to Latics for the past two seasons, indeed he was offered by Spurs as part of the Chimbonda deal last August.

More Rumours .......

2007-06-07T19:55:00.000+01:00

Once again we are being linked with countless players in this silly season they call the transfer window. Today it is reported (again) we are being linked with Mario Melchiot who is a free agent after his time at Rennes. The 31 year old is looking for a possible move back to the premiership and being a keen lover of the PIE, Wigan could be the ideal place.

Also being linked today,looking rather Bond-esque in our image is Sami Hypia, the current merseyside centre back maybe looking for a move away from Liverpool and to further his career at a more exclusive football club like the Latics. He could do much worse I suppose.

And finally, the most prestigious transfer rumour we are being linked with at this time is Two Teeth Tommy. He has a wide and varied career history of which includes, sherbert Gargling, Gurning trainer, and currently holds the World Record for holding the largest amount of Wigan's very own Uncle Joe's Mint Balls in his mouth at any one time.

Lindsay finds gainful Latics employment

2007-06-06T21:40:00.000+01:00

Wigan Warriors chairman and figure of fun/hate Maurice Lindsay has been elected to the FA council as one of five Premier League representatives.

Following the adoption of the Burns recommendations by The FA, the Premier League has a further three FA Council places.

The FA Council, which comprises 92 elected representatives from the constituent parts of the game, meets around six times a year to consider major policy issues and direction, as well as to approve proposals put forward by committee.

The fact Lindsay is now putting forward opinions on behalf of Wigan Athletic will surely rankle with the hardcore support who remember his demeaning of the club when they were in the lower divisions.

Latics Unveil New Kit

2007-06-05T19:52:00.001+01:00

The handsome Emerson Boyce

strikes a pose in his funky stripes

Bramble and Sibierski hop aboard.

2007-06-04T17:50:00.000+01:00

New Wigan Athletic manager Chris Hutchings has made Titus Bramble his first signing for the club . Obviously realising the potential in the 25 year old recently released by Newcastle,Hutchings stole in and snatched Bramble from under the noses of other Premiership admirers.

Titus has signed a three year deal with the club and Hutchings cannot wait to bring him into the healm and get him stuck into pre-season training with his new team mates.

"This is an excellent signing and he'll add experience to the back four," Hutchings said of the 25-year-old, who started his career at Ipswich. He's got a point to prove, I want to make him better and hopefully with the players we bring in he will become a better player,".

After making Titus his first signing, Chris Hutchings then made his secound signing of the day, with Antoine Sibierski putting pen to paper on a free transfer also from Newcastle United, just after the first signing of the day. Sibeierski was at the JJB today to meet new manager Hutchings before jetting off on holiday. Immediately after signing he said "I am delighted to have my future sorted. The manager impressed me hugely and this is a very ambitious club. I cannot wait to get started.

The rumour mill rumbles on

2007-06-03T21:43:00.000+01:00

Newcastle United and Everton are battling for Latics left-back Leighton Baines.

The Manchester Evening News says Latics bosses report no official bids at this stage but offers are imminent.

Latics are apparently leading the race for Levante hotshot Mustapha Riga.

The Mirror says Manchester City, Middlesbrough, West Ham and Portsmouth have been alerted to Riga's availability by his representatives who are determined to bring him to the Premiership.

Chris Hutchings is reportedly setting his sights on Sheffield Wednesday winger Chris Brunt.

Owls manager Brian Laws is anxious to hold on to his star asset, but there was great interest in Brunt during the previous transfer window and Hutchings is ready to test his resolve with a bid rumoured to be around the £2.000.000 mark

Newcastle’s Titus Bramble is also reportedly a Latics target.

Bramble did not feature in Sam Allardyce's plans for Newcastle so was released last month - and Hutchings is ready to pounce for the 25-year-old defender

Vacancy at the JJB

2007-05-31T21:21:00.000+01:00

Between Brenda Spencer's ears.

Paralatic Is back......

2007-05-31T18:46:00.000+01:00

Welcome one and all, this is your new Paralatic site. As well as all the important news views and interviews we hope to introduce you to the lighter side of the world of Wigan Athletic.

Our aim is to get our point of view across with a few giggles along the way.....buckle up your seat belt it's going to be a fast ride...