Former Scunthorpe manager Bill Green has been appointed the club's football co-ordinator by Paul Jewell.
The 55-year-old will oversee transfer negotiations, deal with agents and carry out administration duties.
Jewell wants to spend the maximum time with his players on the training ground rather than get office bound.
So he has turned to Green to help with the time consuming behind the scenes work, with transfer dealings being a major part of the job.
But Jewell has stressed he remains in sole control of who comes and goes at the club, with Green's role kicking in once the manager has identified a potential signing.
And the title of football co-ordinator has been carefully chosen so it is not likened to that of general manager or director of football.
Green has had a long career in the game, latterly working for Latics as a scout.
During his playing days, he was an uncompromising centre-half with Hartlepool, Carlisle, West Ham, Peterborough and Chesterfield.
He had a three-year spell as Chesterfield's assistant manager in the early 1980s before taking up a similar post at Scunthorpe.
Green became the Iron's manager between 1991 and 1993, and later dropped into non-league to manage Buxton and Bradford Park Avenue.
He was chief scout at Sheffield Wednesday when Jewell arrived there as manager for an eight-month spell in 1999.
Green can expect to be busy straight away with Jewell wanting to bring in at least five new players before the Premiership kicks-off on August 13.
And with him determined not to pay over the odds for his targets, the new man will have to be a tough negotiator.
Jewell said: "I have to bring in at least five new faces and that's not easy.
People will try and sting us because that happened when we were in the Championship.
"But I won't be held to ransom over any player.
"I want people who are still hungry and I won't be rushed into buying players who are just coming along for the ride and a pay day.
"There is a huge desire to stay up, but we won't overspend.
"You only have to look at Leeds, Sheffield Wednesday, Bradford, Leicester and Wolves to see what can happen when you don't balance the books.
"I won't allow that to happen at Wigan.
"It is difficult to persuade players that we intend to stay in the Premiership and maybe they see us as a risk.
"But we don't intend being tourists next season, enjoying the ride and the view at all the big stadiums."
Jewell may need to add another name to his summer shopping list to cover the likely loss from the squad of Jason Jarrett.
The midfielder looks to have rejected Latics' offer of a three-year contract and is negotiating a Bosman move to Norwich City.
The club were linked this weekend with Newcastle centre-half Andy O'Brien.
He has been given permission by the Magpies to open talks with Portsmouth but is thought to favour staying in the north.
The Republic of Ireland international played in the Bradford side which won promotion to the Premiership under Jewell six years ago.
And with a new centre-half a high priority, Latics could be ready to make their move.
The 55-year-old will oversee transfer negotiations, deal with agents and carry out administration duties.
Jewell wants to spend the maximum time with his players on the training ground rather than get office bound.
So he has turned to Green to help with the time consuming behind the scenes work, with transfer dealings being a major part of the job.
But Jewell has stressed he remains in sole control of who comes and goes at the club, with Green's role kicking in once the manager has identified a potential signing.
And the title of football co-ordinator has been carefully chosen so it is not likened to that of general manager or director of football.
Green has had a long career in the game, latterly working for Latics as a scout.
During his playing days, he was an uncompromising centre-half with Hartlepool, Carlisle, West Ham, Peterborough and Chesterfield.
He had a three-year spell as Chesterfield's assistant manager in the early 1980s before taking up a similar post at Scunthorpe.
Green became the Iron's manager between 1991 and 1993, and later dropped into non-league to manage Buxton and Bradford Park Avenue.
He was chief scout at Sheffield Wednesday when Jewell arrived there as manager for an eight-month spell in 1999.
Green can expect to be busy straight away with Jewell wanting to bring in at least five new players before the Premiership kicks-off on August 13.
And with him determined not to pay over the odds for his targets, the new man will have to be a tough negotiator.
Jewell said: "I have to bring in at least five new faces and that's not easy.
People will try and sting us because that happened when we were in the Championship.
"But I won't be held to ransom over any player.
"I want people who are still hungry and I won't be rushed into buying players who are just coming along for the ride and a pay day.
"There is a huge desire to stay up, but we won't overspend.
"You only have to look at Leeds, Sheffield Wednesday, Bradford, Leicester and Wolves to see what can happen when you don't balance the books.
"I won't allow that to happen at Wigan.
"It is difficult to persuade players that we intend to stay in the Premiership and maybe they see us as a risk.
"But we don't intend being tourists next season, enjoying the ride and the view at all the big stadiums."
Jewell may need to add another name to his summer shopping list to cover the likely loss from the squad of Jason Jarrett.
The midfielder looks to have rejected Latics' offer of a three-year contract and is negotiating a Bosman move to Norwich City.
The club were linked this weekend with Newcastle centre-half Andy O'Brien.
He has been given permission by the Magpies to open talks with Portsmouth but is thought to favour staying in the north.
The Republic of Ireland international played in the Bradford side which won promotion to the Premiership under Jewell six years ago.
And with a new centre-half a high priority, Latics could be ready to make their move.