Friday, 14th June, 2013
Former Burnley and Bolton manager Owen Coyle is set to be named as Roberto Martinez’s successor at Wigan Athletic.
The Scotland-born tactician will be appointed as the new manager at the DW Stadium on a 12-month rolling contract.
The Latics – under present Everton boss Martinez – bagged the FA Cup this term, but failed to stay alive in the top tier of English football. They will start the 2013/14 campaign in the Championship.
Club chairman David Whelan has explained that a deal in principle has been agreed with Coyle.
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"I have agreed a deal in principle with Owen and his agent is now with our chief executive to finalise the deal", Whelan told BBC Sport.
"But as far as I’m concerned, we have sorted it and I hope the rest will be sorted in the next hour."
Coyle, who played for the Republic of Ireland as striker, managed Bolton Wanderers between 2010 and 2012, but was sacked with the club performing poorly in the Championship after relegation from the Premier League.
Whelan has also made it clear that guiding the Latics to the Premier League is the first priority, as the club belong, in his view, in the English top flight.
"I’ve told him returning to the Premier League is the total and utter priority. It’s fantastic that we are in Europe but that comes second and he knows that the Premier League is where we have to be.”
Wigan will nevertheless play in the Europa League in the upcoming season.
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