The cap fits

Last updated : 24 January 2003 By Paul Farrington
Jewell wants the salary cap sorted soon
Wigan's JJB Stadium hosted a meeting of all 72 league clubs yesterday and while the salary cap wasn't formally on the agenda, it is believed the subject was raised.

The idea of limiting wages to a certain percentage of a clubs' income was suggested earlier in the season after the collapse of the ITV Digital deal left much of the Nationwide League in financial hardship.

Latics are behind the scheme but manager Jewell wants the details of it to be released as quickly as possible so clubs can start planning ahead.

Talks with players who are out of contract in the summer cannot take place until it is known what the restraints will be.

Jewell said: "I just want to know what the parameters are so we can plan ahead and be honest with the players.

"We are up in the air at the moment and we don't know whether it will be 60 per cent, 50 per cent or a fixed figure.

"Whatever the league do, I hope they hurry up so we can all move on."

Jewell takes his Latics side to Swindon tomorrow as they aim to bag their 12th league win on the trot and extend the unbeaten run to 22 matches.

For the first time this season, he won't be able to call on the services of striker Neil Roberts.

The Welshman has been in the 16-man squad for every game, but a one-match suspension rules him out of the visit to Wiltshire.

That is likely to mean a recall to the bench for either Mike Flynn or Scott Green – a scorer on his last two visits to the County Ground.

Both Flynn and Green have played up front during their careers while Lee McCulloch could also switch to the attack if Latics need to replace Andy Liddell or Nathan Ellington at any stage.

Jewell ran the rule over Swindon on Wednesday when they drew 1-1 with Blackpool and was impressed with the Robins' performance.

He said: "Swindon played well in the first-half and could have been 2-0 up by half-time.

"They are on a bit of a run at the moment and one thing their manager Andy King doesn't lack is confidence.

"Looking at their team, Sam Parkin is one of the top scorers in the league, while Danny Invincible and Eric Sabin are very quick.

"They made it difficult for us at our place last month so we know it will be tough going."

Jewell is still refusing to take much notice of the fact Latics lead the Second Division by 11 points and are fast closing in on the league record for successive wins – that currently stands at 14.

He said:"I speak to a lot of people in the game and many of them seem to think the other teams are playing for second place.

"We don't see it like that, all we are thinking is that there is a lot of football still to play.

"But the players do deserve a lot of credit for the run we are on, although no one is getting carried away."

Article from the Wigan Evening Post.