Wigan Athletic fans 'deserve better', admits midfield star

Dan Gardner admits the Wigan Athletic ‘deserve’ a successful resolution to the ongoing takeover - to move on from seven months of hell on and off the field.
Dan GardnerDan Gardner
Dan Gardner

The Far East consortium fronted by Tony Frampton is still in pole position at this stage, with hopes a deal can be pushed through before the end of the January transfer window.

That would allow Latics to look beyond free agents for reinforcements ahead of the second half of the campaign.

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And Gardner, who this week committed his future to the club for the rest of the season, says good news would be long overdue for a club that’s been on its knees for months.

“The place needs it doesn’t it?” he told Wigan Today.

“The fans certainly deserve better than what they’ve had over the last few months.

“It just needs to be resolved as quickly as possible, and everyone will be happy again.”

First things first, and Latics have the small matter of a north-west derby against Rochdale to content with this weekend.

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And a chance to put right the ignominy of a 5-0 home reversal to the same opponents exactly one month ago.

“It was a bit of a shock to the system for us,” acknowledged Gardner.

“We knew Rochdale were a good side, but we were coming off the back of a couple of great results and were flying.

“We owe them one, and hopefully we’ll come away with the result that we need.”

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Saturday’s game will be Wigan’s first of 2021, after the trip to Swindon was postponed due to a frozen pitch, before Covid-19 in the camp forced the games against Wimbledon and Hull to be put back.

“Obviously it was a blow when we weren’t able to play the last few matches,” added the 30-year-old midfielder.

“Because we were on a bit of a roll and we had players available who are no longer here.

“But it is what it is, and I’m sure we’ll get back into it as quickly as possible, and try and kick away from the foot of the table.

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“The only thing that matters is trying to help stabilise the club and, after the takeover, trying to get back to where it should be.

“If we can help that process along by picking up results in the meantime, and staying in the division, that’s something positive we can do."

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