Wigan Athletic FC

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Group Information

Group Name	Wigan Athletic FC
Description	Wigan Athletic won promotion to England's top flight for the first time ever in 2005 and have stayed a Premier League club ever since. Remaining in the top half of the table for almost the entire 2005/06 campaign, the Latics finished 10th and reached the League Cup final for the first time in their history. Wigan's rise has been swift. Playing in the old Third Division when local millionaire Dave Whelan purchased the club in 1995, his Premier League ambitions were realised in just 10 years. Wigan found the 2006/07 season more taxing and were pulled into a relegation dogfight. However, they survived on the final day of the campaign after a 2-1 win against relegation rivals Sheffield United. Manager Paul Jewell chose to step down after survival had been guaranteed and was replaced by his assistant Chris Hutchings. However, after a run of six consecutive defeats at the start of the next term, Hutchings was sacked in November 2007. He had lasted just 12 matches. Steve Bruce, who had briefly managed the Latics in 2001, was lured away from Birmingham City to take over and helped the club avoid relegation and finish a respectable 14th. In March 2009, the club announced the JJB Stadium would be re-named the DW Stadium from 1st August 2009. Bruce guided the Latics to a decent 11th place finish at the end of 2008/09 - their second best finish in the Premier League. In May 2009, Bruce moved on to become manager of Sunderland and he was replaced by former Wigan player Roberto Martinez from Swansea City. Wigan suffered some heavy defeats over 2009/10 including a 9-1 thrashing by Tottenham Hotspur and 8-0 to Chelsea but Martinez guided them to safety.
Category	Football Club - Public Football Club