Wigan Athletic boss slams 'ridiculous' inequality in football

A world away from where he spent most of his illustrious playing career in the top flight, as well as international days with Ireland that took him to two World Cups.

But in an environment he says it’s critical to preserve – for the good of a game that’s in danger of losing Macclesfield Town, barely 12 months since Bury were allowed to be erased from the fixture list.

“You don’t want to see any club in that position, especially as a northerner, clubs going under like that,” said Stretford-born Sheridan.

“I think it was Paul Cook who said recently that, with all the stuff going on in the Premier League, and the amount of money there, it’s ridiculous to see Bury, and now Macclesfield, suffering.

“And probably a few more clubs will be finding themselves in that position, where it’s very, very hard. With the money at the top end of football, and what they’re spending, I would like to see them helping those at the lower end – and I think they can do it.

“It’s not right clubs are going under, because they’ve been around for so long, and you need those sorts of clubs in the lower leagues, to appreciate what football’s about.

“It’s not about the big hitters, it’s about the whole pyramid. Surely there must be a way to filter some of the money at the top down to those at the bottom – and I’m not talking about hand-outs.

“They’re all football clubs at the end of the day, and some of the teams in the Premier League now...they haven’t always been in the Premier League, they’ve been down there as well.

“I think there could be better ways in which these teams which are struggling financially can be helped, because times are difficult for everyone at the moment.”

Of more pressing concern for Sheridan is Latics, and trying to steer the ship to calmer waters while the admins try to find a buyer to secure the long-term. For a new manager coming in, it’s not a usual bedding-in process.

“I’m probably looking at things on a monthly basis at the moment,” he recognised.

“But it’s such a cliche, you can only look at the next game ahead and try and win that.

“All I can do is work as hard as I can, try and maybe add one or players, pick up a couple of quick results, get the focus back on the football and get the positivity back.

“Obviously you do think about what might happen next week, or next month, or next year. But for now the only thing that matters is the next game.”