Wigan Athletic have announced their retained list following the conclusion of the 2023/24 season, and there are plenty of talking points to, well, talk about!
After securing a respectable 12th-placed finish in League One everyone knew this summer would involve rebuilding areas of the squad, and the club as a whole. We’ve gone from the division’s big spenders who plunged ourselves to the brink of extinction twice, to a youth-focused club aiming to develop talented players who can bring the club success from a football and business perspective.
Part of that rebuild is getting rid of players whose contracts, which were signed underneath the previous ownership, were weighing us down and causing a huge dent in our budget. We were spending top League One wages on, in most cases, mediocre League One performers, so it was important for everyone to have a fresh start.
In this article I’ll review all of the decisions made by Shaun Maloney and the club, and give my thoughts on them. There are also lots of academy players whose time at Latics has come to an end so I’ll take a look at the situation there too. Finally, there are four players that the club is still in talks with, so I’ll review where we stand with and without them depending on what decision they come to.
I’ll compare all of these announcements to my recently released Squad Review articles and work out where it leaves our squad ahead of the transfer window, as well as how much money actually has been freed up. This will be the set-up for my Sensible Transfers series, which will kick off on Monday and see one article released once a day for a full week (seven days).
I hope that sounds good to you. Let’s get going!
Retained Players – First Team
There were no surprised at all here to be honest, and I think that’s very important as we need as much continuity as possible. Of course there is a possibility that some players will leave in the transfer window, but that would require a fee which is what we want. Gone are the days of filling our first team squad with players at the end of their peak with no sell on value.
The average age of our retained first team players is just under 22 which is quite ridiculous when you consider this time last season that number was closer to 30. Key to that low number is the interesting inclusion of Tom Watson, James Carragher and Joe Adams in the first team squad list, which suggests all three will have a bigger part to play next season.
I always expected that to be the case with Adams, who I think has a very useful profile and set of attributes to add to our squad. Tom Watson probably needs game time and may well make way if a new back-up goalkeeper is signed. Equally, if Sam Tickle leaves a decision will have to be made as to whether or not the 19-year-old is ready to make the step up to the first team, either as our first choice or cup goalkeeper. James Carragher is the most established of the three and this feels like the best time for him to break into our first team for good.
With just 15 contracted first team players listed it’s clear that we need some signings next year. In terms of positional profiles that we currently have at the club, we look a little something like this currently.
By filling all of those 23 profiles we give ourselves a solid base to work from squad wise, plus the help of four top performers in the academy. There’s plenty of work to be done, especially if none of the players currently in discussions sign on for another year.
Current First Team Squad
Goalkeepers: Sam Tickle, Tom Watson
Defenders: Sean Clare, Steven Sessegnon, Charlie Hughes, Luke Robinson, James Carragher
Midfielders: Baba Adeeko, Matt Smith, Scott Smith, Joe Adams, Thelo Aasgaard
Forwards: Jonny Smith, Chris Sze, Josh Stones
First Team Squad Value + Wages
Estimated Wage Bill: £30,000 p/w
Released Players – First Team
In truth there weren’t many surprises here either. I like the fact that we’ve been ruthless, and have focused on what’s best for the club rather than being swayed by sentiment. Stephen Humphrys, Charlie Wyke, Josh Magennis, Tom Pearce and Ben Amos are the departing quintet, and all have had very up and down spells at the club I think it’s fair to say.
The only one of the five I would have wanted to stay is Humphrys, and based on comments from himself and Shaun Maloney I think an effort was definitely made. Unfortunately for us his performances, particularly in the first half of the season, gave him a bit of leverage in negotiations and I’m sure he’s had some interest from elsewhere. It meant we were unable to offer him what we wanted which is fair enough, and again I like the fact we’ve not made an emotional decision. He leaves a hole in the squad for sure, but departs with my very best wishes. Space has opened up for a new Bolton slayer!
Charlie Wyke and Josh Magennis are two experienced strikers who had very up and down spells at the club. Obviously Wyke’s spell will be remembered most for his miraculous recovery from a cardiac arrest back in 2021, an inspirational story to rival any in the sporting world. He came with a big reputation and showed his class at times, but for the money he was earning we simply couldn’t justify keeping him around. And while his wage was less than Wyke’s, the same probably goes for Magennis. Our club captain last year played his part on and off the pitch, and seemed like a huge part of things behind the scenes. However, he’s just not what we need from a striker and I like that we’re going out to get strikers that suit us better than Wyke and Magennis did.
Tom Pearce was the only survivor from our first season of serious troubles, and played a key part in the 2020/21 great escape. Injuries have plagued his time at the club and he’s never really managed to get a consistent run of good form under his belt. He’s got some good attributes, but is another player who we can improve on without having to spend much money and the fact he’s been released suggests our recruitment team are confident that that is the case too.
And the same goes for Ben Amos. He barely played last season because of Sam Tickle’s fantastic form, and the fact that he’s just not capable of playing the way Maloney wants to. The manager praised his character, and he did so with all the departing players which highlights the experience we’ve lost from the group.
Those five players were reportedly on a combined wage of £36,500 pw. That’s more than the current 15 man squad is on all together. In fact you could take Tom Pearce’s reported £5,000 p/w wage out and it would still be more, which really shows the level of cost-cutting that’s gone into things here. It’s imperative that we get wages like that off the books, and it allows us to spend more money across the board while still having a much-reduced wage bill. I don’t quite think people understand how much £36,500 p/w in League One is. For five players who, if we’re being honest, weren’t consistently performing at a good level throughout the season that’s good going.
Released Players – First Team
Goalkeepers: Ben Amos (£6,500 p/w)
Defenders: Tom Pearce (£5,000 p/w)
Forwards: Charlie Wyke (£12,000 p/w), Steven Humphrys (£7,000 p/w), Josh Magennis (£6,000 p/w)
Discussions Ongoing
Four players are in talks to remain at Wigan Athletic for next season and beyond, and they are all players I’d be keen to keep around. The five released players, with the exception of Humphrys I guess, were never set in stone as first team players, whereas three of the four players we’re trying to retain were key to our success last season.
Firstly, Jason Kerr is an absolute must-keep for me. Not only is he a really well-rounded defender who could easily play Championship football again in his career, he’s also an absolute certainty to take over the captaincy after Josh Magennis’ exit. The Scottish defender looks to have overcome his injury concerns and ended the season brilliantly, forming a great partnership with Charlie Hughes and putting in some imperious performances at the back. We need as much continuity as possible in defence, and keeping hold of Kerr would be a huge bit of business. Providing the wage comes down to a reasonable level I’d be keen to get it done as soon as possible.
The same goes for Jordan Jones too really. He’s a player who we should absolutely try and keep, but only if the finances work in our favour. His profile as a wing back / winger hybrid is really quite unique and it’s no secret that the Northern Ireland international was pretty much our only attacking threat at times last season. Unfortunately the wage he was on last season was completely unmanageable for us, and we’d probably be looking at halving it to make it comfortable for us. I love him as a player, but I think it’s worth saying that there are alternatives in the transfer market and we don’t need to go all in on him. If a suitable agreement is reached that would be great though.
The biggest surprise on this list for me is Callum McManaman, and that’s because I’m a bit stunned an agreement hasn’t been reached already. It’s an absolute no-brainer to retain Cal Mac, especially if his wage remains as modest as it was last season. Perhaps the reason negotiations are still ongoing is because he’s asked for more money, and he’d be well within his right too given the level of performance he put in last year. He’s an elite substitute still, and I expect he’s a huge part of things off the pitch too. His connection with the supporters is ace and it just needs extending. I hope this is all done by the end of next week to be honest, because there’s no real need to mess about with it on either end.
And finally there’s Harry McHugh, who had a good loan spell at Ayr during the second half of the season. He’s definitely a player who can play a part next season, but may be hampered by the fact that there are three players ahead of him at right back and in central midfield. Another loan may be necessary, but I know Maloney likes him so I wouldn’t be surprised to see him stick around.
I expect McManaman and McHugh to remain at the club. I’m fairly confident that Kerr will too, but him departing wouldn’t overly shock me as I expect he’ll have offers from elsewhere. Jones feels like a 50/50 call, and at his age you wouldn’t begrudge him taking the offer that earns him the most money. We’re not in the business of blowing teams out of the water wage wise, so I’m not getting too ahead of myself with that one. If he stays that’s great, but if he leaves I won’t be blindsided by it.
Players Currently In Discussion
Defenders: Jason Kerr (£6,000 p/w) – would renew for £4,500 p/w (+3 years), Harry McHugh (£750 p/w) – would renew for £750 p/w (+1 year)
Midfielders: Jordan Jones (£8,000 p/w) – would renew for £4,000 p/w (+2 years)
Forwards: Callum McManaman (£2,000 p/w) – would renew for £2,000 p/w (+1 year)
Retained Players – Academy
The under-21s has been streamlined completely this summer which is really interesting. Those that follow the club social media accounts may have seen that since January they’ve been getting battered most weeks, which I was sure had a lot to do with the fact that most of their best players had been either loaned out or promoted to the first team. However, the fact that only six players remain in the squad suggests those excuses weren’t enough to save them from release.
Contracted to Latics next year are Matty Corran, a talented young goalkeeper who has been the third choice on a matchday for all the games since Tom Watson’s loan move to Oxford City. Then there’s Leo Graham, who has impressed since joining from Bolton and looks like an exciting forward player capable of playing in a number of positions at the top end of the pitch.
Callum Jones, who recently got the all clear after recovering from non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, has been listed which is great news for him and the club. He’s the under-18s captain and a really promising full back who looks destined for the first team. What an inspirational young chap he is.
Ethan Mitchell had a remarkable loan spell at AFC Fylde and will return to fight for a first team spot. A loan move to a higher level could be in store for him, before we reassess his squad status in January or at the end of next season. I really like the look of him though and hope he gets the opportunity to play regularly.
Jack Reilly’s versatility has seen him play in most positions during his time in the academy, and he’s a player I predicted would make an impact on the squad last season. That might have come too soon for him, and he wasn’t helped by injuries, but he’s got another year to make that step.
And finally, Kai Payne is remaining at the club which comes as a surprise to nobody. Shaun Maloney clearly rates him highly and I’m expecting him to get a loan move to a decent level where he can showcase his talent in the men’s game. There’s high hopes for the technical midfielder at the club, so I’m keen to see what’s in store for him.
Under-21s Squad – 2024/25
Goalkeeper: Matt Corran
Defenders: Callum Jones
Midfielders: Ethan Mitchell, Jack Reilly, Kai Payne
Forwards: Leo Graham
Released Players – Academy
There aren’t loads of surprises here in terms of ability or likelihood of breaking into our first team, but I am a bit shocked to see so many exit the club at once. What it suggests to me is that there’s a lot of faith in our under-18 age groups to provide players ready for the step up, which was the case towards the end of last season in fairness. The results weren’t great, but those players will be better off for those experiences and should now be ready for the level.
Players like Kieran Lloyd, Abdi Sharif and Joe Rodwell-Grant making an exit isn’t a surprise as they’ve all reached an age where they should have made more of an impact on our first team by now. Luke Brennan and Max McMillan fall into that bracket too, but did show some promise in the youth team last season which made me wonder if they’d get an extra year at the club.
Youseff Chentouf and Dylan Dwyer were both consistent performers in the under-21s too, but perhaps aren’t showing the high levels of other academy lads. It’s a shame, but being a 6.5/10 every week in youth football doesn’t excite people much. You have to show the ability to dominate at that level and my guess is neither did that enough. They are the two biggest surprises for me.
Ultimately, as was the case with the first team, we’ve made some brutal decisions that are in the best interests of the club and nobody else. Those lads had talent, but rather than keep them around in our youth team we’ve shipped them out to make way for younger players who might develop beyond the level that these did. That’s the right attitude to have, and with external academy recruitment becoming more common for us my guess is there will be some notable investment in that side of things too.
Released Players – Under-21s
Goalkeeper: Matthew Wonnacott
Defenders: Dylan Dwyer, Kieran Lloyd
Midfielders: Abdi Sharif, Luke Brennan, Youseff Chentouf
Forwards: Max McMillan, Joe Rodwell-Grant
Final Thoughts
All in all I think we’ve got things absolutely right this year with our retained list, and it’s made me feel a lot more confident going into next season. The fact that the club have made decisions for the betterment of themselves may seem obvious, but after the previous regime it’s great to see us being smart with how we operate.
To put it in the most simplistic terms, the players who have been released were not worth the money we were paying them and therefore we can’t keep them around. Stephen Humphrys was the closest to being worth it, but as we move away from the days of spending big at the level saying goodbye to players like that is necessary.
We’ve got rid of some deadwood at first team and academy level, freeing up space for an aggressive summer of recruitment as Shaun Maloney looms to finally have the chance to build a squad in his image. It’s a massive summer for him and the club, but he’s got it off to a really good start here in my opinion.
And now it’s time for the fun stuff… the summer transfer window. A lot of work has already gone on and I’m sure it won’t be long before I’m writing Welcome to Wigan Athletic articles again!
In the meantime… Sensible Transfers! They’re back and better than ever, and if you’re reading this on the day it came out (11/05/2024) then you’ve got a full week of articles to look forward to. Seven articles will be released day by day for the next week, filled with all the information you could ever need ahead of the summer window.
With the way things are at the club currently I’ve never felt more confident that we’ll be linked with players included in my shortlists, and perhaps we may even sign a few. It’s going to be a really exciting few months, and I hope my Sensible Transfers articles can kickstart that buzz!
Thanks for reading this article too by the way! It’s been slightly different and I’ve never done one of these before, but I hope it was worth your while. Keep an eye out for more content on TalkingWigan.com, and if you haven’t already be sure to subscribe to the website so that you’re notified whenever I post on here. Ahead of the Sensible Transfers week you’re going to want to make sure you don’t miss out, I assure you!
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