Paul Cook "very surprised" by Wigan Athletic's administration

The Wigan Athletic manager met with administrators today - less than 24 hours after a 3-0 victory over Stoke City, their third successive triumph since returning to action.

Paul Stanley, one of the joint administrators of Begbies Traynor, said: "His reaction was being very surprised, because normally in these circumstances we're picking up clubs on a losing streak and people haven't been paid.

"Here, outside Brentford, they're probably the best in the Championship on form. I think the manager's take is he's surprised it's come to this, given the job he has done and squad he has."

Latics, 14th in the Championship, will be deducted 12 points at the end of this season if they finish outside the bottom three after 46 games.

Should Wigan finish in the relegation zone, the penalty will be applied during the 2020-21 season instead, says the English Football League.

While being candid about the financial situation, Stanley offered some optimism to worried supporters.

"Our London office did Southampton, I think, about 10 years ago - they're now in the Premier League," he said. "Long term, I think you'd find more clubs than you'd think have been through administration. A lot of them in the north west have. I think institution, the football club, will carry on."