It's 'tough' but we have to focus on the football, insists Jamie Jones

Wigan Athletic’s players will have their blinkers on this weekend as they get the new season under way at Fleetwood – while uncertainty regarding the ownership of the club continues to fester.
Jamie JonesJamie Jones
Jamie Jones

With more than half of last season’s squad having left – along with boss Paul Cook and first-team coach Anthony Barry – it will be a much-changed side that takes to the field on the Fylde coast in blue and white.

But with Leam Richardson having elected to stay put, and being assisted by head of academy Gregor Rioch, there will at least be some continuity in the technical area.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“Leam has taken the role on brilliantly,” enthused goalkeeper Jamie Jones who, like Richardson, is also kicking-off his fourth season at Wigan.

“We’re doing everything right, we’re professionals and we have a job to do and our job is to concentrate on football matters.

“It’s been a shorter pre-season with the lockdown, but we’ve had a great pre-season.

“Leam’s got us working well and we’re looking forward to Saturday.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“Other things off the pitch, we can’t control. And it’s tough, yeah, when you really care for the club. It’s hard.”

The first test for Richardson will be getting a side out on Saturday, with the recent friendlies featuring a number of trialists and free agents.

“It’s about recruiting and getting people in when we can,” added Jones.

“And even though last season didn’t end the way we wanted, we can hopefully keep the momentum going.

“In the friendlies we’re playing high-press which is always good.

"It’s how we played with Paul, so it’s things we know. We’re going into games with the same way of playing.”