Who Will Be The Next Manager of Wigan Athletic

If Steve Bruce leaves, as is looking likely, who are the front runners for the managers post at Wigan Athletic and what is the likelihood of them getting the job?

Vital Latics takes a look at some of the candidates:

Roberto Martinez

The current boss of Championship club Swansea City, Martinez would be the fans choice as he is an ex player of the Latics and he has done well in his first post at Swansea.

Eyebrows were raised back in February 2007 when he was appointed boss of ambitious Swansea who where then a League 1 club but he silenced any doubters by taking the South Wales club to the League 1 title the following season.

Martinez has his team playing excellent football and they knocked Premier League club and FA cup holders Portsmouth out of the Cup by defeating them 2-0 at Fratton Park, he won many plaudits in the next round of the competition when they played Fulham off the park only to draw at the Liberty Stadium and then unluckily lose the replay at Craven Cottage

Known as the next Arsene Wenger, Swansea would need some persuading to allow Roberto to leave and it is not clear that he would want to anyways but the bookies have him as favourite to be next Wigan Athletic boss

Vital Latics rating 8/10


Alan Curbishley

Unemployed former boss of Charlton Athletic and West Ham United, previously linked with the Sunderland job.

Started his managerial career as 'joint` manager of Charlton in 1991 but took sole control in 1995 and won promotion to the Premier League via the play-offs in 1997/98 season, relegated a year later but back up as Champions the following season.

He turned Charlton into a top half Premier League side without breaking any pots and was known as a good wheeler dealer in the transfer market, he was interviewed for the England job in 2006 which Steve McClaren eventually got and he left Charlton that summer.

Appointed West Ham boss in December 2006 taking over from Alan Pardew, the Hammers looked like they were relegation certainties but 7 wins in their last 9 games and a little help from Senor Tevez helped secure a last day survival with a 1-0 win at Old Trafford against Manchester United.

Curbishley left West Ham in September 2008 having resigned due to what he claimed was the clubs transfer policy (he`ll go down well here then) and he has been job hunting since.

Vital Latics rating 6/10


Gordon Strachan

Left Scottish giants Celtic last week, the former Coventry City and Southampton boss was also linked with the Sunderland job.

Strachan made his name playing for Aberdeen, Manchester United, Leeds United and Coventry City as a no nonsense hard talking midfield player, he took that style into management with his first job being in charge at Coventry in November 1996, he was sacked following relegation from the Premier League at the start of the 2001-02 season

He then took charge of Premier League relegation favourites Southampton in October 2001 and turned round the fortunes of the Saints, he guided them to 11th in his first season, the next year they finished 8th and reached the FA cup final, they lost 1-0 but still qualified for Europe due to the fact that Arsenal, who beat them, had already qualified for the Champions League.

Strachan resigned from Southampton in March 2004 claiming he needed a break from football, a year later that break was over when he replaced Martin O`Neill has the manager of Glasgow Celtic.

With three Scottish Championships, one Scottish FA cup and league cup under his belt in his five seasons in charge you could say that Strachan has been successful, but it is his temperament that would be the concern and how he would get along with Latics owner Dave Whelan, not likely to happen.

Vital Latics rating 3/10


Alan Irvine

Preston North End boss Alan Irvine left the comfort of being David Moyes number two at Everton to put himself in the spot light at struggling and relegation threatened Preston in November 2007.

That season the canny Scot guided Preston to safety and mid-table respectability finishing 15th, his first full season in charge has seen Irvine get the North Enders playing his way and some good football saw Preston make the end of season promotion play-offs.

Sadly for Irvine they were second best to a very good Sheffield United and that was the end of his promotion aspirations for this season. Whelan may think that he is promising but too much of a gamble.

Vital Latics rating 4/10


Paul Jewell

Every time there is talk of a new boss needed at the Latics Jewell`s name will always be linked, he has had his time, became a legend then left, so let`s leave it there.

Vital Latics rating 0/10


Tony Adams

Ex Portsmouth and Wycombe Wanderers boss certain to apply and get himself in the frame.

His two spells as manager have been disastrous, firstly at Wycombe who he joined in November 2003, relegated in his first season and resigned at the start of the next.

Adams then worked under Harry Redknapp as his assistant at Fratton Park and then took over the reins himself when Redknapp went to Spurs in October 2008 on the 9th February, 16 games and 10 points later he was sacked.

Thanks but no thanks

Vital Latics rating 2/10


Graeme Souness

Ex Liverpool, Rangers, Benfica, Galatasaray, Newcastle United, Southampton and Blackburn Rovers boss and close friend of Latics owner Dave Whelan

Successful in terms of winning trophies but his teams play bland football and he isn`t liked by the fans, he has been linked with us in the past and will be again, Whelan just might look to Souness to steady the ship after the turmoil and upheaval if Bruce does go and take all the backroom staff with him.

Vital Latics rating 6/10


My personal choice without any doubt would be Roberto Martinez, but the big problem would be getting permission to speak to him off the Swansea board and then persuading him to leave the Liberty Stadium.

Can see this running for a few days yet, who would be your favourite?



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