Wigan Athletic should never go down again, says Chris Merrie

Midfielder Merrie is among a clutch of academy graduates who have been handed first-team chances after so many frontline players departed in wake of their drop from the Championship last summer.

And they are in danger of a second successive relegation, with Latics’ 5-0 thumping by Hull City in midweek left them second bottom of the table.

Merrie, though, believes they have the quality – and is certain they will have the fight – to steer away from danger over the next few weeks.

The 22-year-old said: “It’s up to us, a new group, to fight for every point now.

“We’ve got a great squad, we’re settled so we can try and gel together and get some valuable points. There are a lot of games to be played and we’re more than confident we can do the job.

“Some of us have been here so long, this club means so much to us. I know how much it means to the fans and we’ll do everything possible to keep Wigan Athletic up because they should never go down again.”

“It’s so tight down there, a couple of wins you’re right out of there so we just need that good result to build on it and gather some momentum.”

It doesn’t get much easier, with leaders Lincoln visiting the DW Stadium today.

But Merrie said: “We know they’re a tough team, they move the ball really well, but we’ve had some good results against the top sides like Sunderland away. Even at Lincoln we were competitive. If we can stay in the game we get a chance of getting something from it. I think confidence is massive. When you’re down there you think everything is against you, but our luck will change, one will go in off the post or something like that.

“We know we have the players in the dressing room who can keep us up – we just need to find that momentum.”

Manager Leam Richardson admitted in midweek the club’s off-field uncertainty was beginning to “seep through” to the players.

Merrie added: “It’s devastating what’s happened to the club, nobody can believe it really. Leam tries to keep all that away from us and for us to concentrate on football and prepare for matches, but everyone watches news and social media. It’s up to us to try and save the club.”