The Latics and the EFL have “Agreed Decisioned” regarding a financial misconduct allegation.

The English Football League has fined Wigan Athletic three suspended points for failing to pay salaries on time in 2022.

The Latics, who paid player salaries three times behind schedule in 2018, have achieved a “Agreed Decision” with the EFL on a financial misconduct issue.

According to a statement from the club, wages were not paid on time three times last year—in June, July, and October 2022. The club informed the EFL of these instances, in accordance with Football League rules.

Consequently, Wigan Athletic was penalised with misconduct by the EFL for their failure to adhere to Regulation 64.7.

“Where it is appropriate in the circumstances to conclude a matter effectively and equitably without referring the matter to a Disciplinary Commission, Regulation 86 allows the EFL and a club to enter into a ‘Agreed Decision’.”

The club’s owners are also required to deposit “an amount equal to 125 per cent of the forecast monthly wage bill in a designated club account” in addition to the suspended three-point deduction, which is in effect for a full year.

Following their administration in the summer of 2020, Wigan was taken over by Bahraini businessman Abdulrahman Al-Jasmi in 2021.

After winning promotion as League One champions the previous season, the Latics are currently four points from safety at the bottom of the Sky Bet Championship.

Stephen Crainey, a former defender for Leeds United, resigned from his position as coach at Wigan Athletic to rejoin Ian Evatt at Bolton Wanderers.

In 2022, Crainey became a member of Wigan and assumed the position of head professional phase coach. After that, he volunteered to help Latics manager Shaun Maloney with first-team matters, although he has since left.

After agreeing on a remuneration package, Bolton named Crainey as the team’s joint assistant manager. Crainey is back again with Bolton manager Evatt, with whom he was teammates at Blackpool, thanks to the move.

“We have a clear plan and idea of how we want to improve things on and off the pitch, and this appointment is in addition to what we already have,” Evatt stated following a fairly thorough season evaluation. As far as our staffing structure goes, I believe we’ve checked every box.

Every season, you should consider how you can get better, how we can get better, and what talents you are lacking in your crew. We’ve talked about taking a more comprehensive approach to managing the workforce, and Stephen, who I’ve known for a very long time, has the skill set that I believe we are lacking.

“I think it’s a very important appointment for us,” the person said. “He’s a very good character, a strong character who knows what it takes to win and will be extremely additive to the rest of the staff.”

Crainey is a well-known figure in West Yorkshire, having played for Leeds for 62 games from 2004 to 2007. He also includes Southampton and Celtic among his opponents.

Wigan Athletic has been active in the transfer market thus far this summer in preparation for Shaun Maloney and company’s 2024–25 play-off campaign.

The Latics have secured the permanent signing of Dion Rankine from Chelsea as well as the loan signings of Michael Olakigbe and Calvin Ramsay from Brentford and Liverpool, respectively. This comes after Latics boss Maloney previously stated to Wigan Today that he wanted 90% of the playing squad for the upcoming season with the club by pre-season.

The Latics manager will be eager to complete his transfer business as soon as possible because, thanks to financial mismanagement by the club’s former ownership group, his team was placed under a transfer embargo for the entirety of the previous season, and key players like Charlie Wyke and Tom Pearce left at the conclusion of the campaign.

The Greater Manchester team will be eager to bring in plenty of new players, but this luxury may not always be feasible because current ‘Tics owner Mike Danson has ingrained an ethos at the Brick Community Stadium that puts financial sustainability at the heart of the club’s operations. These two players, however, have the potential to save the Latics six figures should the team decide to promote them to the first team rather than choose to buy alternatives:

Josh Stones

Josh Stones, a young attacker and recent academy graduate, demonstrated his potential last season by helping Wigan to two goals in three EFL Trophy appearances.

Prior to being loaned out to Oldham Athletic in December, the 20-year-old, who possesses a strong physical presence up top, made six appearances in League One, including a start during a 2-0 victory against Exeter City back in October.

He only made four appearances in the fifth division, so sadly for all three of them, his loan move to the National League team was terminated. Despite this setback, he managed to show off his goal-scoring prowess by scoring three goals.

With the loss of Josh Magennis and Wyke, as well as the club’s top scorer from the previous season, Stephen Humphrys, the Latics may be inclined to purchase a new striker; nevertheless, Stones could be the best option to fill the number nine position on the roster.

With the loss of Josh Magennis and Wyke, as well as the club’s top scorer from the previous season, Stephen Humphrys, the Latics may be inclined to purchase a new striker; nevertheless, Stones could be the best option to fill the number nine position on the roster.

Harry McHugh

Harry McHugh is another Latics academy product who the club should look to regularly embed into the first team next campaign in order to save themselves from buying a new player in the transfer market.

The versatile 21-year-old made six appearances for the Greater Manchester outfit in all competitions last season, and scored an EFL Trophy goal.

McHugh joined Scottish Championship side Ayr United in February, where he was a regular feature, making 12 appearances and providing one goal and two assists in the process from central midfield.

For a clash against Derby County on Boxing Day, he was deployed as a left-wing-back for the Latics, which showcases his ability to play in multiple positions, while according to Wigan Today, Maloney has promised the starlet first-team opportunities next season following his recent contract extension.