Wigan Athletic recorded a club record 8-0 victory over Hull City on Tuesday night, against a backdrop of financial scandal, administration and the threat of relegation.
Here we pay tribute to the Puma shirts worn by Wigan, inspired by the pin-striped Patrick kits worn when they rose to the Premier League in 2005, but in truth, this isn’t a toast to the design of their tops.
This Kit of the Week is a toast to the against all odds spirit of manager Paul Cook and his boys as they battle to hang on to their Championship status.
The Latics have been playing on just 20% of their normal salaries since news of their administration broke, but have been in dazzling form of late, recording 4 wins from 6 matches, meaning that had the Championship begun at the return from lockdown, Wigan would be third in the table behind only Brentford and Leeds United.
Relegation would be cruel on the club and their fans, who only a few weeks ago were looking at a bright future under new owners.
Yet amid the spectre of financial mismanagement and rumours of bets being placed on their relegation by members of the board, Wigan face a 12 point deduction in this season or next which threatens to return the club to League One.
Those rumours of bets being placed in the Far East make the presence of the obligatory gambling sponsor on the shirts an especially tough pill to swallow, but we like Puma’s update to an old favourite shirt and always enjoy the combination of blue and green on the Latics’ shirts.
Wigan Athletic’s urgency in front of goal in their fight for survival is clear to see and we applaud the togetherness shown by players, fans and the town of Wigan, as well as the solidarity to their cause shown by rival supporters.
A Crowdfunder page set-up by the Wigan Athletic Supporters Club has so far raised over £165k to help to keep the club functioning until a resolution to their troubles can be found.
We wish Wigan Athletic’s players, staff and fans all the best of luck in their continued fight and call on the Football League to do the right thing and review the situation for the benefit of the competition and the preservation of the club and the community around them.
