At Crystal Palace, Andy Johnson nearly single-handedly kept them up with his 21 goals, second only to Thierry Henry.
Peter Crouch at Southampton started scoring at the right time for the Saints but a three game suspension picked up at the end of the season meant that he couldn't save the South-coast club.
Whilst over in Norwich, boss Nigel Worthington decided to lay out over three million to Crewe for a striker unproven in the Premiership. His goals meant that Norwich were a whisker away from staying up. Only defeat on the final day of the season to Fulham sent the Canaries down.
That player was Dean Ashton.
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Impressive form for a player who had never played at this level before, to make the immediate step up was commendable, but to manage the standard of performances that Ashton was putting in was nothing short of incredible.
Anyone who was lucky enough to witness the twenty-two year old play in the Championship knew full well that he could handle the step up. By January he was pulling away in the race for the Championship golden boot and still finished in the top five come the end of the season, with 19 goals.
Dario Gradi, the Crewe boss was hopeful of a playoff place for his side before Ashton's departure, however his side failed to register a league win after his departure. Only a final day victory over Coventry saved the Railwaymen from relegation.
With Nathan Ellington, David Graham and Lee McCulloch unproven at the top level and the uncertainty over Jason Roberts' ability to bag the goals in the Premiership, a player who would no doubt get fifteen goals throughout the course of a season would be a god-send to the Latics.
Perhaps it is the four million pounds in transfer fee that is putting Jewell off a move for the hitman. It certainly can't be his wages (Norwich have a similar wage structure to the Latics) and it certainly cannot be his attitude (Worthington has confirmed his amazing drive to improve).
Andy Johnson would cost upwards of five million and Peter Crouch is certain to command a similar fee if he chooses to leave the Saints.
So why is Jewell not moving for the striker?
Jewell had been linked with a move for Ipswich's Darren Bent before his move to Charlton, a player who would give the Latics side another direct-style striker who was again, unproven at the top level.
Robbie Blake has also been touted as a target, but the ageing forward is slow and made little impact on Birmingham's season after his move from Burnley.
Ashton on the other hand would give Jewell a different option up front. While Ellington offers awesome skill and good pace, whilst Roberts is a real powerhouse striker with bags of pace and strength to burn.
Ashton would bring good old-fashioned centre forward play to the JJB and the guarantee of goals.
Throughout his career he has made no secret of his eventual desire to play in the Premiership, and he joined Norwich because they offered him the opportunity to play there.
He may well be happy to stay with the Canaries for another season and help get them back up to the top flight, but the temptation of an immediate return with the Latics, and a move back up North, may well be overwhelming. He is too good for the Championship.
Come on PJ, tempt the goal-den boy from Carrow Road (and I don't mean Leon McKenzie) up to the JJB, he offers the one thing so sacred in the top flight, goals.
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Paul Farrington (wiganer@blueyonder.co.uk)
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