August saw more controversy regarding Pascal Chimbonda's future. Crisis talks were held at the training ground with the player and agent and general scumbag Willie McKay.
|
Willie was met by a group of Wigan fans holding a petition signed by 1,000 people calling for him to be drilled out of football. McKay is well known for unsettling players to create moves and money for him.
He told the fans that Pascal was staying and had agreed a new contract. A blatant lie. Wigan had been offered a swap deal of Andy Reid and Danny Murphy for Chimbonda, a deal which Paul Jewell rejected, as he wanted the full 6 million.
Chimbonda played in Latics's friendly against Halifax Town and was booed by Wigan fans. Just before the start of the new season, Wigan snapped up the loan signing of one of the young players of the world Cup, Luis Antonio Valencia on a season long loan.
Wigan met Newcastle in the opening day of the season at St James's Park. Scott Parkers 1st half goal was cancelled out by Lee McCulloch but Shola Ameobi won it for the magpies in a 2-1 defeat.
Emile Heskey opened his Wigan account a week later as Wigan beat Reading 1-0 at the JJB. The month ended with a number of transfers. Graham Kavanagh and David Connolly left the club to join Roy Keane's Sunderland and Pascal Chimbonda finally left for Spurs.
Wigan welcomed the signings of Kevin Kilbane and David Cotterill on long-term deals whilst Portsmouth striker Svetoslav Todorov joined on loan.
Sat 19 Aug | A | League | L 1-2 | 51,569 | |
Sat 26 Aug | H | League | W 1-0 | 14,636 |
