Wigan Athletic players fear a fresh points deduction but this time for the 2023/24 season amid yet another wait for late wages.
Latics players are not training ahead of their final Championship game of the season, where they face Rotherham at home on Monday.
Sky Sports understand that players who are still under contract next season have been paid their wages for April, albeit these payments were late.
The players whose contracts expire this summer are still waiting for their wages now and have been told they will get theirs on Tuesday of next week. That’s after the Bank Holiday.
Sky Sports understands this is going to be the fifth time that players have received their wages late and although they have eventually been paid on the previous four occasions, there are concerns amongst the squad that payment is not guaranteed this time for those who are only contracted until the end of June.
Wigan have already been relegated from the Championship, having been promoted from League One as champions last year.
In March, they were given a three point deduction by the EFL for failure to pay the players on time and Sky Sports News report that some members of the squad fear a further points deduction and if this comes into effect next season, it may then hinder their chances of immediate promotion back to the Championship.
BREAKING: Wigan Athletic players are not training today ahead of their final Championship match of the season. Players out of contract in the summer are still waiting for their wages. pic.twitter.com/hIJJfQLawe
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) May 6, 2023
CLUB STATEMENT:
WIGAN ATHLETIC RELEASE THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT IN REGARD TO WAGES
There has been some delay with wages which were due to be paid yesterday (Friday).
Staff wages were paid on Friday with the Chairman, Mr Talal Al Hammad, making a decision to pay as many employees as possible within the organisation with the resources available. All remaining playing and non-playing staff will be paid at the earliest opportunity following the Bank Holiday weekend.
The ownership group, Phoenix 2021 Limited, insist they are working hard to ensure that this is rectified as soon as possible and apologise again for the stress this has caused.
All first team players have been given the day off from training today given the difficult circumstances.
The Club will make no further comment until it has further clarification.
– STATEMENT ENDS –
Wigan Today report that a number players, believed to be those who were contracted beyond the summer of this year, have been paid but the contracts of those who are due to end at the conclusion of this season have not been paid.
This unprecedented action comes after Friday morning’s failure to meet the four-weekly pay cycle.
Wigan Today said there were assured by high-ranking officials, that wages would be paid ‘absolutely’ later in the same day, but the deadline of 5pm came and went without payment.
The squad had a day off on Friday as planned, but were scheduled to train Saturday and Sunday in preparation for the final match of the season at the DW against Rotherham on Monday.
They were told they could take the weekend off to ‘clear their minds’.
Wigan Today are now reaching out to all three board members – the chairman Talal al Hammad, acting CEO Tom Markham, and non-executive Oliver Gottmann for comments.
The non-playing employees received their usual wages.
SEE MORE: Wigan chairman issues new statement after players hit out at ‘disrespect’ shown to them
This is how fans reacted as Wigan players fear a fresh points deduction for the 2023/24 season amid another wait for late wages…
@thehandofbeadle: There’s also going to be a delay with me renewing my season ticket (a permanent delay in all likelihood)
@Lancsscholar: I have decided that I will only pay for the games we win next year if that’s ok? If the club can pick and choose so can I.
@Charles_1933_: Phoenix out.
@pretty_boy79: Just renewed season ticket on monthly installments you won’t mind then if I’m a bit late paying the next 1!!! Works both ways!!!
@nathanpugh2002: @PKendrickWIG was “promised” they’d of been payed yesterday. Another lie from the ownership, it’s time to go now
@Von_Blitzkreig: More lies. Can’t believe a word they say as this has happened too many times. Time for them to put the club up for sale.
@michaeldawber: It’s clear the owners are struggling financially- & the hot air around the London property sale of £33 million waiting to go through- it’s gone too far now – please consider selling the club before it’s too late & we end up with the inevitable fire sale of our young players #wafc
@DannyLannon: In other words, we have no idea what Al Jasmi is doing or planning to do, Talal tries his best but what chance has he got. Need the lot of them out, clean slate now. #phoenixout
@CorporalSlow: Two season tickets not being renewed till you lot fire off. Actions speak louder than words
@JackRourke15: Sell up
@TangerineRob: Shambles.
@samf012321: get out now
@HeyesKeelan: Wouldn’t blame any player/ staff member for leaving. I don’t think anyone would want to come to work for the people (owners) that have continuously made promises and then not fulfilled them on more occasions than just one. Joke. #wafc
@WafcHugh: Same shit, different day
@lucyx_jane: just get out of our club
@IainPilling: 4 more season tickets that aren’t going to be renewed. Sort it out! #wafc
@liam_birks: This club sends out more statements out than a bank, these owners seem like they are never going to learn feel for the players, staff and fans again.
@mightybongsmon: Get the b#£#**!s out of our club
@chriswafc: Takin piss out of us. Just pack up and fuck off
@tom_piper: Talking shite as usual.
@LiamK1998_: These and Reading will struggle next season
@RB_Ritch: Get these cowboys out of our club asap, chancers 🤢
@jonnyslack94: Just sell up for crying out loud. Nothing but lies fed to us for months now @TalalAlHammad32
@_hayleighhxo: Get in the bin. There will be no club soon. Players will leave and no one will want to sign for them.
@Connor_bwfc98: They are in the mud. But wigan fans really need to stand up to this idiot. How many times can they allow this to happen without actually demonstrating properly?
@JamesSaintLatic: 🤣🤣. What a statement. Sometimes it’s better saying nothing than clarifying nothing and stating what we all already knew. Staff and players must be desperate to get out and you can’t blame them. Where’s the building money gone? Can be the new where’s the McCarthy money 🤣
@JoeConway97: Easy to laugh and joke as Bolton fans, but the fact is we’ve been there- and it’s horrible. Hope they can get their club sorted out soon, this owner seems a right clown. #BWFC #WAFC
@rimmington01: Just get it sorted talal and co, this isn’t good enough we are becoming a joke of a club. Their are good people at this club and messing them around isn’t and never will be ok. Sort it out or try to find someone who will buy us only 2 options left. #wafc
@TomHorn88: Has to be a mass protest tomorrow, surely? They’re taking the piss out of everyone. #wafc
@ScottEvans8797: Laughable, some good people at the club they’ll have their reputations ruined by these conmen but the supporters club will be fully behind them when they give us another ridiculous excuse #wafc
@watsonshead: This is becoming a monthly farce! They need to go! The reputation of the Club is permanently tarnished with this ownership. Attracting players, sponsors and any thing in between is going to be extremely difficult until we have serious change at the top. All trust has gone.
@GouldingP: @EFL @EFL_Comms #wafc You raking in the money after new Sky deal yet you clearly show little/no concern for clubs. You carry out a ‘fit and proper test’ on owners at #wafc yet they look like they are about to go into administration again and all you do is deduct more points!
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