Wigan Athletic boss: I'm so sorry we couldn't get the win the Whelan family deserved

Dave Whelan takes his seat before his final match as Wigan Athletic owner

The Wigan fans marked the end of an era with a standing ovation on the 23-minute mark - to mark 23 years of Whelan family ownership - of a highly-enjoyable Championship contest that the West Yorkshire side sneaked by the odd goal in three.

Sadly the players on the pitch couldn’t quite get the job done, which Cook admitted was a real shame.

“It is a massive disappointment not to be able to send them off with a win,” acknowledged the Latics boss.

“Especially considering everything they’ve done for the club, the town and the community over 23 years.

“But over 23 years they’ve had plenty of highs and lows, and they’ll know each are part of the journey you go through in this game.”

All of the pre-match talk had centred on the handing-over of power to International Entertainment Corporation, who will assume formal control over the next few days.

Cook, though, refused to blame that for his side’s defeat - their first at home all season.

“No, it didn’t have any effect on us whatsoever,” he insisted.

“When you’re playing Leeds United at home, with the travelling support they bring, it’ll always be a big game that you’re focused on.

“I actually think our lads deserve a little bit of credit today for taking the game to them, rather than sitting off them like a lot of teams do.”