I should never have left Wigan Athletic, admits Will Grigg

In an exclusive interview with The Athletic, the Northern Ireland international reflects on the events of a dramatic transfer deadline day that saw him swap Wigan for Wearside.

It's been 18 months of frustration for Grigg, with the team not playing to his strengths and twice missing out on promotion back to the Championship.

And Grigg admits he would have been better off had the 11th hour activity, which got the deal done, not have happened.

“It had been on and off for a week, even on the last day," he said. " During the afternoon, I got a call to say it was not happening.

"They said: ‘We have done our best but it is not going to happen’. So it was 9.30pm. I was in pyjamas with my partner.

"I put the children to bed and was sitting watching TV when I got a call to say, ‘Get yourself to Wigan as soon as possible, we have an hour to get the deal done’.

“I was really keen on Sunderland — a massive club. I wanted to be part of that.

"(But) I absolutely loved my time at Wigan and, in hindsight, I probably should not have moved.

"Some things were happening at Wigan at the time, with certain people and a change of ownership, as well as staff behind the scenes. It was not in favour of me.

“I don’t mean the gaffer or playing staff. I got on with them so well.

"But there are a lot of things behind the scenes in football that fans and everyone just don’t see.

"At no point would I ever have wanted to leave. I would love to return.

"At the time, I felt as though I was forced into… not forced, but I felt like I didn’t have a choice when they accepted the offer. I had to leave.

"I should not have left when I did.”