Frustrated Wigan Athletic fans, players and manager Shaun Maloney take another swipe at the club’s owners over more wage delays.
BBC Radio Manchester reports that the Latics players are becoming increasingly angry and frustrated with the club because they have not yet received their May wages.
Only a few squad members who are still on contract have got their salaries, while others have yet to been given them.
The rest of the wages were to be paid on Tuesday. However, a deadline of 5:30pm on Thursday has now passed.
Three points were deducted from the club in March because they had paid players late on three occasions in 2022-23.
BBC Radio Manchester has asked the club to comment on the situation and now The Professional Footballers’ Association are stepping in to help the players.
Steven Caulker took to social media to share his feelings about the unpaid wages. His contract is set to expire next month.
Wigan defender Steven Caulker has once again criticised the club’s owners for failing to pay player wages on time. pic.twitter.com/Z3FXi9ncn4
— The Second Tier (@secondtierpod) May 12, 2023
In a post on LinkedIn, Caulker, who has criticised the club owners before, posted: “I might buy a football club next week.
“Put my sponsorship all around the stadium, sign loads of players, promise the fans I am committed, and then when it comes to pay day, just pay five or six players who I think are an asset to the club. Could you imagine?
“Again, my thoughts are with the good people of Wigan. You deserve better. It’s a very sad state of affairs.”
It was just a few months ago Caulker backed his team-mates’ decision after broken promises from the Wigan hierarchy.
Caulker posted on LinkedIn: “This lies us as players have been told by Wigan Athletic F.C. is absolutely scandalous.
“There may be reason for late payment once or twice, but for the boys to have experienced this 5 times this season is completely unacceptable.
“We are told as players everyday that the money is on its way and will ‘hopefully’ reach our account by the afternoon. 14 days later, the money still hasn’t arrived.
“Furthermore, what is more concerning is that we are due to be paid again on the 7th April and the club are unable to confirm whether they will have enough funds for this.
“Since I arrived at this club I have seen the players and backroom staff work tirelessly to try keep this club in the Championship.
“It’s really painful to now see that task become harder and harder each passing day.
“As the famous saying goes ‘Being silent while witnessing an injustice makes you guilty of the oppression as well’.
“Well my position is clear, I stand with the honest hard working staff and players, whose mental health is now being affected by this.”
Graham Barrow: ‘I have to say this club is so lucky it has Shaun Maloney as its manager. He won’t thank me for saying this but he goes above and beyond every single day. This club is in safe hands as long as he is the manager.’ #wafc pic.twitter.com/UE5ApZwGNu
— Paul Kendrick (@PKendrickWIG) May 11, 2023
A club statement released last week saying chairman Talal Al Hammad had last Friday paid “as many employees as possible within the organisation with the resources available”.
A couple of months back, the EFL brought charges against the club due to further delays.
The team didn’t train on Saturday before their final home game against Rotherham, which was scheduled for Monday.
Wigan will now return to League One in the next season after finishing bottom of the Championship table.
Talal Al Hammad is also said to have wrote to the EFL in order to assure them of the future stability and success of the club.
The ruling body sent a letter to Latics earlier this week asking for their comments following the latest non-payment of wages.
Wigan Today state that a reply to EFL Chief Trevor Birch was sent with Al Hammad saying the ownership is committed to the running of the club in the “short, medium and long term”.
They are yet to pay the outstanding balance of wages due last week, however have provided evidence that they believe, once the current issue has been resolved, we won’t see this being an issue again going forward.
This plan will see Wigan operate on a drastically reduced budget in League One, with several of the club’s highest earners expected to leave this summer.
The fifth violation could result in a further penalty, and club owner Abdulrahman Al Jasmi has also been charged with misconduct.
Update: Ownership going nowhere. Committed to ‘short, mid and long-term’ future of #wafchttps://t.co/dyO5bfTnPU
— Paul Kendrick (@PKendrickWIG) May 12, 2023
Statement by Wigan Athletic supporters’ group – Indie Latics
“After a week of representatives of this and other groups pushing the chairman to bring the financial situation at the club to a swift resolution, we have been told that funding is on its way, as per reports in the media” the statement read.
“But we are still awaiting confirmation that this money is in the club’s bank accounts and available to settle the outstanding wage payment.
“We will continue to push for action and news on this front and are also looking for assurances that:
* the wage bill is settled;
* there are no other creditors waiting for payment;
* funding is in place to get the start of next season;
* plans are in place to deliver on the owner’s intention to run the club sustainably.
“We want to see solid evidence of these plans including steps that will be taken with timescales that the chairman can be held accountable to
“We also strongly believe that the chairman needs to come out and communicate with all fans about how the club has ended up in this situation.
“We note that a time and date for the promised, recorded, interview with Wigan Today has still not been provided and implore Mr Al Hammad to set this immediately.
“A week is too long to sit in silence with supporters left in tenterhooks wondering whether our club has a future. Good communication is key to good management and we are seeing neither at this moment.
“For one final time, we ask the owners and board of Wigan Athletic to demonstrate some evidence that they are capable of the task in front of them.
“Shape up or sell up.”
Wigan boss Shaun Maloney is disappointed the club have failed to pay wages on time again.#WAFC #bbcfootball #bbcefl
— BBC Sport Manchester (@BBCRMsport) May 8, 2023
Nail on head from Shaun Maloney… #wafc
“I think we all expected and hoped that these kinds of days were behind us…there’s just been a lack of clarity, which makes it difficult for me to manage the team and manage the players individually…”https://t.co/57DAJrWNzh
— Paul Kendrick (@PKendrickWIG) May 8, 2023
As tweeted before…a v emotional Shaun Maloney after…said it’s ‘impossible to talk about the future’…and appreciating the #wafc fans’ support:
“That was very special, and I really want to do good things at this club. I just hope we get that chance.”https://t.co/Ij1BqjoY5p
— Paul Kendrick (@PKendrickWIG) May 8, 2023
This is what fans had to say as frustrated Wigan players and their manager take another swipe at the club’s owners over wage delays…
@chunkyboy61: Makes you question the fit and proper persons test?? #efl
@crooksy1978: Been a shambles from top to bottom- recruitment, academy, wages and management appointments- a sad state for a good and loyal fan base
@JamieLowe34: They’ve been through the ringer poor Wigan.
@BluebirdSnoop: How many times does it need to happen though? Wigan fans been run through the mill for a few seasons I think the EFL need to try and force the sale of Wigan tbh that owner just don’t learn from his mistakes and it could get very ugly very fast if no action is taken
@tjbrown___: Was quite funny at first but now just a sad situation. The fact efl allow these owners is mental
@Jabra8te: Fit and proper owners. Thanks EFL
@Redcl1ffe: Some boy Caulker. Was only here a few months and has been more vocal about the owners than any other player, fans group and local journalists. Not to mention playing last game of the season while not being paid and carrying an injury #wafc
@samf012321: the fucking cheek to say they’re committed to the club BEFORE they even pay the wages is vile. i don’t want to hear from talal i want to hear from al jasmi. WE DONT WANT YOU GET THE FUCK OUT bury 2.0 incoming #wafc
@IanCart59216988: How the hell have phoenix 21 proved to the @EFL they had funds to run us, when they clearly don’t, definitely some back handers have been took to approve these clowns #wafc
@samf012321: feel like fucking crying at the news they’re staying, literally makes me so angry. we need to do everything in our power to see these lot go #wafc
@NeddyWAFC: @TalalAlHammad32 listen matey not a single cunt wants u here anymore do us all a favour and fuck off back to ur council flat #wafc
@faz42: Lie after lie after lie, players still not paid, property supposedly sold to fund us which is bollocks, lying to fans faces who they invited in, not making a single comment on the 10th anniversary… they can get to fuck #wafc
@audineil: Get ready for the weekly dose of the happy clap. With favourites such as “Come on talal, actions speak louder” , “can we have a statement talal”. Wont take much for people to start accepting their bollocks again. I WILL SPELL IT OUT. THESE AMATUERS HAVE RUINED OUR CLUB #wafc
@WAFCLouis: If these lot actually do stick around, I’d love it for the opening game of the season to start with an attendance of about 200 home fans. The players still contracted don’t deserve it but the owners don’t deserve our money. #wafc
@SteTinsley: Committed to #wafc for the short, mid and long term, only problem is @TalalAlHammad32 no one believes you, you’ve made our club a laughing stock and now, for the good of the club no one wants you here. It is OUR club. We want stability. We want OUR club back.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login