Talking sport...is the unlikeliest Wigan Athletic hero set to emerge?

But David Phillips QC could be about to write himself into Latics folklore, as he attempts to overturn the club’s 12-point deduction imposed by the EFL for being placed into administration.

Despite the most heroic effort imaginable, Paul Cook and his players were agonisingly unable to secure their safety on the pitch, with the standard of refereeing in last week’s game against Fulham on a par with the success of the EFL’s Owners and Directors test – the ‘fit and proper person’s test’.

Latics think they have a strong case. For £500,000, I’d expect it to be as watertight as a submarine door.

That figure, incidentally, is inclusive of BOTH sides’ legal costs.

That’s right...to challenge the EFL’s rules and regulations – which have been widely criticised as being not fit for purpose – you have to also pay for their legal representation. Win or lose!

It’s to discourage clubs from challenging the authority of an organisation that surely has to be subject to a root and branch review of its effectiveness.

Yet part of the problem is the EFL don’t actually make the rules – they merely enforce them.

To effect any form of change, the majority of clubs must be in favour.

As EFL chief Rick Parry has acknowledged, change is needed. But without the appetite from the clubs, nothing will happen.

Parry admits the Owners and Directors Test ‘isn’t perfect’...but attempts to tighten up eligibility of would-be owners would narrow the pool of potential buyers.

Which the clubs themselves don’t want to do.

Sadly, until the clubs do get their collective backsides into gear, tragedies like Latics – and Bury, and countless others – will continue.

In the meantime, it’s over to you, Mr Phillips QC.

Into these men early...

Now we’ve all dreamed of lifting the FA Cup like Emmerson Boyce, or the Challenge Cup like Sean O’Loughlin.

Of gliding through a helpless defence like Ellery Hanley, or sticking one in the top corner a la Andy Liddell.

What I can honestly say I have never once even contemplated is entering a UFC octagon, and standing toe to toe with someone whose only goal is to hurt you before you can hurt them.

What I do know is there isn’t an amount of money that would get me into the squared circle, like our own Mike Grundy did at the weekend.

The proud Wiganer hung in there for the full three rounds – despite breaking his jaw in the opening exchanges – before losing valiantly on points.

Rather than lick his wounds, he’s promised to come back bigger and better than before.

Mike, in a nice way, you are clearly mad. But also as tough as they come, with the heart of a lion – and we’re all 100 per cent behind you.

Also on the bill on ‘Fight Island’ in Abu Dhabi was fellow Wiganer Tom Aspinall, who won his maiden fight via impressive knockout.

Another name to keep an eye out for, representing this great sporting town of ours on the world stage.