Wigan Athletic skipper lifts lid on admin struggles

Joe Garner celebrates his winning goal against Doncaster

The 32-year-old is expected to return against Charlton on Saturday, having missed last weekend's defeat at Crewe due to concussion protocol.

He suffered a bang to the head after scoring the only goal against Doncaster the previous weekend - his fifth of the campaign already.

And the much-travelled frontman has lifted the lid on how the events of recent months has affected the dressing room.

“It’s been tough for everyone,” he acknowledged. “Tough on the football club, tough on the players – for those who are still here and also those who have left.

“We all still speak, it was a very tight bunch we had here.

“Obviously the ones who are still here and doing everything we can for the club, and looking out for each other.

“Some of the lads have been wondering if they’re going to be under contract, not under contract, not knowing if they’ll have a job in the morning.

“But the staff and those who have stayed on have helped to keep the spirits up.

“We’ve worked really hard in training and everything seems to be going really well.”

Garner is one of the few bits of continuity from last season, having signed a new one-year deal days before the club was placed into administration.

And along with Kal Naismith, Lee Evans and Jamie Jones, he’s taken it upon himself to try to keep the mood positive.

“I think between the lads there’s always been a good spirit here,” he acknowledged.

“The lads who have come in have wanted to work hard, and the lads who were here before have demanded they work hard.

“We’ll just take it game by game, and try to keep it going.

“If the takeover happens, brilliant, but in the meantime all we can do is keep working hard."

Garner points to another experienced professional as a key cog in keeping everything together.

“Probably Gary Roberts, he keeps all of the lads together,” Garner recognised.

“He’s a great person to have around, and has been absolutely brilliant for the club.”

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