This Jewell's a diamond

Last updated : 02 March 2003 By Paul Farrington

Paul Jewell: Diamond
Back in 1996 I was set to give him his break into the coaching ranks during my days as Bradford boss, but it all depended on the Second Division play-off final.

Paul was finishing as a player and if we won I could bring him in as an extra man on the coaching side. If we lost, no chance, and he may have been lost to the game for good.

We were successful, beating Notts County 2-0, and he has since gone from strength to strength - just look at what he's doing at Wigan.

I know he had a bit of a blip at Sheffield Wednesday, but every manager will tell you it doesn't work out at one club. The good managers come back from it, as he has.

Paul already has experience of going from Division One to the Premiership with Bradford and I wouldn't back against him doing the same with Wigan.

If he does, no one will deserve it more than Dave Whelan, the man who has poured millions into fulfilling his dream.

There aren't too many ex-players who are prepared to throw their cash at a football club. Francis Lee at Manchester City is the only other one who springs to mind.

But Wigan chairman Whelan has done it after earning his fortune from 30 years in the sports shop business.

Now, some 440 shops later, he has one lasting ambition - to see the town's football club in the Premiership.

He has spent £30million of his own money on the magnificent JJB Stadium, another £20m has gone on players and their wages, so I don't think anyone would begrudge him success.

Okay, Whelan has gone through a lot of managers trying to achieve his dream and Jewell knew he could be another casualty if he failed to deliver this season.

But he has delivered and their midweek win over second-placed Crewe confirmed Wigan's position as the best side in Division Two.

Paul will not hear talk of promotion around the club. But the incredible statistic of only conceding 19 goals in 33 games tells its own story.

They now need less than a point a game to guarantee promotion. And once they are up, who knows how far the club will go?

Article taken from The News Of The World and written by Chris Kamara.