Wigan Athletic: The 12th Man part 2 - 'As the crow flies, there are exactly 3,315 miles between my home in New York City and the DW Stadium, but I have never felt more attached to the club...'

Our panel of 12th Men are still struggling to come to grips with what's happening to their club on the eve of the new EFL campaign...
The DW StadiumThe DW Stadium
The DW Stadium

Alan Rogers :

November 2, 1971. That’s the first real date I remember at Springfield Park. I know that people always ask “What was your first game?” but I can’t honestly remember. I know that I had been going to watch the Latics for quite a few years before that date but nothing really stuck in my mind. This date in the winter of 1971, however, was different. I was 14, my younger brother, Andrew, was 11. I remember the game for two reasons – firstly it was the first time I had been trusted to take him alone to the game, and secondly the weather. We were playing Halifax in the FA Cup and most of the game was played in a blizzard. We were wet through and absolutely freezing – worse than being at Boundary Park – so we spent the entire game huddled under the stand – in the middle of the crowd – trying to keep warm. Consequently all we saw of the game was when the ball was in the air! Our restricted view meant that we couldn’t see any of the pitch! The much taller blokes around us provided a running commentary, all with different viewpoints - but we came away happy with a 2-1 win. My brother and I still have season tickets together, along with the rest of the family and we have been trying to make some sense of the situation that we currently find ourselves in. Having lived through the Kenyon years, the Pye era etc, we thought we had seen it all. But this is something else. Putting aside for a moment how we came to be in this mess – the situation seems to be going from bad to worse. But no-one really knows the facts – and that’s one of the main problems. Anyone with any sense knows that with NDA’s flying about - we are never going to find out most of the truth until this is all over – but the rumours and counter-rumours are proving to be very damaging. It brings me back to my first point about the Halifax game. It’s as if we are once again standing at Springfield Park, occasionally seeing a glimpse of the ball when it’s in the air – but having no real idea what’s going on in the game. Bystanders are giving us their views on the game but, as usual, everybody has a different opinion. And that brings me to my second and final point. The crowdfunder initiative led by the Supporters Club is brilliant and I was proud to be able to get involved – even if it was in only a small way. I fully believe in Caroline Molyneux and the rest of the Committee and also have a lot of time and respect for Jonathon Jackson. It’s good we have had such a fantastic reaction from far and wide. But although we need to be passionate about our cause, we also need to try to keep calm. I’ve sat in the West Stand, in the same seat, since the ground opened and over the years we have been amazed at how some fans – who supposedly go to the game each week to watch our team do well – can have such wide-ranging, and sometimes totally contrasting opinions. It definitely wouldn’t do for us all to be the same but now – more than ever – we need to stick together and if the time comes for action, then so be it. But I trust Caroline, Jonathon etc will warn us if and when that time may be near. Until then, keep the faith – and keep our heads.

David Naylor :

So another week has passed and the start of the EFL season is now upon us, with the boys (and I mean boys) travelling to Ipswich for the opening fixture of the league season. We have been to League One before, and have deserved to be in that league following a relegation from the Championship. But this time it does not feel right or fair. Wigan Athletic as a club finished 13th in the Championship – comfortably mid-table, the most in-form team in the country, and looking like a side going places. Never did we think those places would be League One, but here we are the eve of a new season, and in a league we have dominated the past two times we have been here. Exciting times ahead, hey? Well no, not this time. This time it is different the air of excitement and confidence has gone from the club and its fans, social media has become a depressing bleak place to be, so has my What’sApp group with fellow game going fans. Each day on the timeline, there is more bleak and depressing news. This week, for example, the news of the administrators’ expenses came to light with their total costs being over a seven-figure sum, The news of the pending departure of Nathan Byrne and Sam Morsy. Then there was the piece de la resistance...THAT rumor the new owners want to move the club out of the town to play at a smaller stadium in a neighboring town. I have my own thoughts on this as do many other Latics fans, but for me it’s a difficult situation. I don’t believe the prospective new owners wanted us to be a club that plays their home games at a number of different local grounds, kind of like a Harlem Globetrotters of League One football. This seems a ludicrous statement from the administrators, especially considering the bloke who is meant to be fronting the bid was heavily involved at Barnsley, and will be familiar with the EFL rules regarding having a home ground. I do believe the prospective new owners have looked at the stadium and have identified some areas that may be problematic for them as a business, and have been looking for an alternative solution. Yes the DW Stadium is too big for us. Yes it is soulless. Yes it lacks identity. Yes it needs a massive refurbishment. Yes it lacks atmosphere, Yes it loses over £1.5million a year,. But should that mean we abandon it? Does that mean we move the club to play in Leigh? I mean, it’s probably a perfect size for us, it would cost us a minimal fee to play there, less overheads, less financial losses? Perfect, hey? NO!! We are Wigan Athletic, we play in Wigan. We are not Leigh Athletic, Leigh Latics, Leigh Town. WE ARE WIGAN ATHLETIC and WE ARE PROUD of what Dave built. And we will not let that be taken away from us. Let’s just remember why we are in this situation. All this is due to one man getting bored, driving the club to the edge of a cliff, and jumping out the driving seat before it falls completely off the edge, killing everyone else in the club and watching it explode and die. Keep the faith we will rise again.

Andy Carey :

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Without sounding too despondent, I’m so deflated by the current situation. Conflicting information from the administrators and media rumours. I just want to switch off from it all and for someone to let me know when we’re out of our misery. It is very much the metaphorical rollercoaster. On one hand we refresh our phones in the hope that a ‘statement from the administrators will pop up with the good news introducing our new owners, when in reality all we get is swipes at journalists. Krasner’s weekly call to our supporter representation brought with it more questions about whether the EFL have given us the green light to commence the season or not. On the back of what feels like we’ve been robbed of Cedric Kipre for a pittance, we start the week with rumours of a move to Leigh and more players likely to be leaving. I’ve said before I fully expected relegation to bring with it a number of departures, and I genuinely wish all the players (and coaches!) well, given their efforts last season. Now I’m no football agent and have never dealt with football transfers, however some of these fees mentioned are criminal. Yes the market is a strange one given the state of football finances but come on...it feels like we’re the gift that keeps on giving. Speaking of gifts, Victor Moses. A player that brought us many happier times at the JJB/DW. A mere £20,000 donation to the crowdfund is phenomenal and brought some positivity back again. Let’s just hope everyone’s efforts are rewarded with what we deserve. The Supporters Club are doing all they can and it will be difficult for them, given they will be privy to details the general fans aren’t but cannot go public. We have to believe their influence will only help us whatever course the future takes. Yes there’s a fixture on Sunday, but at the moment I’m not concerned about the result. I just want my club back.

Matthew Auffrey:

The moving image of Leon Balogun’s close-range header still replays daily in the depths of my thoughts. Fulham’s Marek Rodak produced a remarkable save, and minutes later the final whistle would blow to confirm relegation and seal a dark fate. As Wigan Athletic fans, we knew from that moment, the road ahead just became incredibly steep - regardless of whether we saw that road as an Everest-like uphill ascent or a downward path that would result in a near freefall. After an already difficult past two months, the news of Sam Morsy and Nathan Byrne’s impending departures hit me particularly hard. This duo played over 300 matches between them as Latics team-mates, and could not have represented themselves and the club in a more honorable fashion. They took on the role of underdogs, more often than not as Latics, but competed with a fearless warrior spirit, and produced some phenomenal results during their tenures. They are two players who I have never met or have seen play in-person – for a club whose only match I’ve attended was an international friendly against MLS side Columbus Crew in July 2013. As the crow flies, there are exactly 3,315 miles between my home in New York City and the DW Stadium, but I have never felt more attached to the club. Even when standing, I continue to sit on the edge of my seat waiting for updates. Owners, players, matches, managers, stadiums, and finances have all consumed the brunt of my social media consumption for some time. For every bit of news that delivers optimism, an aura of uncertainty still seems to permeate our situation with an expanding reach. A 2-0 lead lasts shorter than ever now – on and off the pitch. I’m still proud of this club and grateful to everyone associated with it who has stopped at nothing to see it not only survive but thrive. Going forward, every new player signed will be treated like they commanded a record fee, every goal scored will bring on a cheer louder than the one before, and every match victory will be celebrated as if it were a cup final. I could not be more excited to hop on a train at 6:30 am this Sunday and (hopefully) watch the Ipswich match with my mate Max. Let’s give the lads our full support and make the 2020/21 season the one where we defy the odds to the greatest degree yet.

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