Wigan Athletic boss Shaun Maloney has thanked Latics fans for their support throughout the season after the club’s relegation to League One was confirmed by Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Reading.
Charlie Hughes had kept Championship survival hopes alive when he struck with nine minutes to go. But the visitors were left crestfallen as Yakou Meite found an equaliser three minutes into stoppage time.
The point leaves Wigan three points adrift from safety with a game remaining while Reading and Huddersfield’s match next week means at least one of the endangered teams will attain enough points to stay out of the bottom three
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Wigan - promoted from the third tier last year - were hit with a three-point deduction in March for failing to pay players on time. Maloney took charge in January upon Kolo Toure's departure but only managed four wins in 17 matches amid difficult circumstances.
The 40-year-old described the club’s relegation as a “deeply painful day” but praised his squad for their efforts during a trying year and vowed to make amends. “It’s a really difficult feeling at the moment,” he admitted.
“It’s been a really difficult day for everyone, a deeply painful day. It’s been a real mix of emotions. The players have given me everything since I took over and I couldn’t have asked for any more effort from them.
“We’ve won games and we’ve lost games but, in terms of the group of players, they’ve been immense for me.” Maloney added: “It’s been such a unique situation here at the club, especially with the three points deduction.
"We then knew it was going to be very difficult for us. But for the players and the fans, just a massive thank you to them for all they have given me and their club.
“At the end of the season, the table doesn’t lie. That’s fair. But from what the players have given me, they haven’t been one of the worst three teams in that time. I’ve now got to make sure that we don’t ever have a season like this again – on or off the pitch.”
Maloney said he remained philosophical about Hughes’ late goal despite the emotion of the strike. “When Charlie (Hughes) scored, I’m normally pretty calm in these moments,” he added.
“But I also know that football can take away from you as well – and, unfortunately, it did. At 1-0 we had to find a structure to see the game out. But from a set play, the bounce of the ball landed to Reading.”
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