'Half a million pound cost for Wigan Athletic appeal'!

The extraordinary figure was revealed by Gerald Krasner, of Begbies Traynor, who says the administrators will meet again on Thursday morning to decide whether to proceed - depending on Wednesday night's do-or-die clash against Fulham.

If Latics were to beat the Cottagers - and either Charlton or Luton failed to beat Leeds or Blackburn respectively - Paul Cook's men would retain their Championship status in any case.

And with only half of the cost of the appeal having been committed so far, it would make huge sense to withdraw from the process.

Due to EFL rules, any club fighting the points deduction must pay costs - win or lose - with VAT also applicable.

"The figure involved for the appeal is between £400,000-500,000," Krasner revealed.

"If I told you we've got 6,000 pieces of paper from the EFL to consider, that's why it's so high.

"I've asked our lawyers for an estimate, and I've been given an estimate for our side.

"We can see how it's made up, and we believe the EFL will have similar costs.

"We've had to appoint accountants at £20,000 to do a report.

"I don't know why, I can't understand how that's the rule, but it is."

As to why a club would have to pay the costs of both sides even if they were to win, joint administrator Paul Stanley clarified the situation.

"The other 23 clubs in the Championship wouldn't want to have to effectively pay for another club to appeal," he said.

"What we're saying is, from the integrity point of view - and this is not this situation - if you had clubs bringing frivolous appeals, expecting the other 23 chairmen to pay for it...they wouldn't be up for that.

"It's almost like they've already decided that whatever penalty they dish out stands.

"They are making it virtually impossible for a club to appeal."