Historic fight ahead of Wigan Athletic

The dozen points could well be the difference between staying up and being relegated to League One.

But they are hopeful that the special circumstances surround the controversial decision taken to place them into administration will swing the case their way.

“Our lawyers made the appropriate appeal earlier this week under the ‘force majeure’ clause,” Gerald Krasner of joint administrators Begbies Traynor. “And we have until Friday to lodge the evidence to support that appeal.

“It will then be over to the EFL to consider the evidence we’ve put in, and reach their decision. And I will say they have been supportive in every other area discussed with them during this process.”

History, however, is very much not on Wigan’s side.

“To my knowledge, I don’t believe an appeal has ever been successful against the 12-point penalty,” Krasner acknowledged. “But we are living in strange times.

“I believe we have a case, we are paying a fee for the privilege of putting that case to the EFL. But we must understand they must operate within their regulations.

“And if they changed them for us, how many other clubs would want them changing for them?

“We have a very strong case – but whether that will be enough to get the points suspended or overturned, it remains to be seen.

“All we can hope for is a fair hearing and that, in this instance, they will change their mind.”