The Wigan Athletic training ground 'scene' following Kevin Miller's passing that Gary Caldwell 'will never forget'

The Latics boss was speaking in the aftermath of Saturday's 1-0 home defeat to Wycombe Wanderers, which saw the club slip back to the bottom of League One.

But the result paled into insignificance given the events earlier in the week, with Miller's death at the age of 57 casting a huge shadow on the whole club.

Before the game, there was a minute's applause, which was repeated at the 57-minute mark, for a man whom Crystal Palace paid more than £1million in 1997 to take him to the Premier League.

Wycombe also showed their respects before kick-off as striker Jayden Wareham - who was a colleague of Miller's last season at Exeter City - placed a wreath behind the goal in front of the South Stand.

Latics were unable to mark Miller's passing with a positive result, but Caldwell insisted his players did everything they could in the worst circumstances.

"It was tough," he said. "It's been tough all week. Coming in on Wednesday morning, and seeing staff getting out of their cars, and the kind of scene...it's one I'll never forget.

"The feeling I had, and I spoke to Jack, our young sports scientist, who lived with Kev...and who found Kev... And again...I never want to experience a phone call like that again.

"I spoke to Fiona, Kev's wife...and obviously all our thoughts go to her and Esme, Kev's daughter. You know, we're suffering, but they're obviously suffering a lot more.

"We've all lost a brilliant person, and I think you've seen that with the response to the news of his passing.

"Yes, he was a good goalkeeper, yes he reminded us about that all the time...and the fact he was once got bought for a million quid. But he was far more than that...he was a brilliant person.

"His legacy at all of the football clubs he represented with distinction will live on, but our thoughts remain with Fiona and Esme, because God only knows what they are going through at the moment."

Caldwell hopes the pre-game tribute to Miller - who followed the Latics chief to Wigan from Exeter over the summer - will show his family and friends just how highly thought of he was.

"Fiona and Esme obviously couldn't get to the game, they're nowhere near ready to do something like that," he said. "But we'll send them the pictures before, to show them what their husband and their dad meant to so many people.

"I'm sure there will have been an incredible celebration of his life at Exeter as well, because he really was Mr Exeter. When you were in that stadium, Kev knew every single supporter, staff member, board member.

"It used to take him hours going through the lounges after the game because he knew everyone, and everyone wanted to talk to him because of the kind of person he was.

"That's what we'll remember more than anything...not as a goalkeeper, not as a coach, but as a person. I think that's his legacy, and that's why it's so difficult for me and everyone else who knew him."