Paul Jewell insists he would be happy even if it took until the last day of the season for newly-promoted Wigan to retain their top-flight status.
The Latics manager achieved exactly that feat with Bradford five years ago and knows what it takes to survive.

Jewell said: "I would love to stay in the Premiership again with Wigan. I'll settle for last-day salvation like we achieved with Bradford.

"If my team is good enough and I get the best out of them, we will stay up."

Jewell is under no illusions as to how difficult the task will be, but remains confident his side can prove their critics wrong.

He added: "If people are saying we're certainties to go down, then let's use that as an extra spur.

"We don't have to prove anything. There have been a lot of unkind comments about Wigan since I have been here - about the players, supporters, the club and the town - and we've proved them all wrong so far.

"But I'm not in this game to prove idiots wrong, I'm in this game to be as good as I possibly can, to get the best out of whatever team I possibly have.

"We've had a winning mentality here over the last three years, and without being defeatist, that's going to change to a certain extent.

"We've got to make sure if we do get beat - and we are going to get beat on occasions - that we stay together, we don't lose our heads and don't panic.

"It's going to be an awfully difficult season, but one we are looking forward to."

No chance! wigan will be whipping boys ur lose 5-0 on the opening day and free-fall from then on!

If I had been on this forum earlier and seen this post I would have put you right on Wigan Athletic ages ago.

Although it is obvious for anyone to see that Wigan will not be going down this season, Wigan were NEVER going to be premierhip whipping boys.

Being in the fortunate position of knowing what a fantastic manager Paul Jewell is, having already kept my beloved Bradford City in the Prem. Wigan were at very worse going to make life difficult for teams in the prem. Jewell has already beaten Arsenal before (and has again in the semi-final first leg of the carling cup) when City won 3-2 at Valley Parade. And before the end of the season in the league Wigan will beat at least one of the top 5 teams in the Prem.

With the string of 'new age managers' Jewell I reckoned at the start of the season and do now more than ever, will one day take charge of the club that released him as a player. Liverpool.

Watch this space and dont slaughter me about it just yet because I have a long memory and will wait years before I come back and dig out this post and say "I told you so, and you mocked me, whos laughing now"lol

Seriously, Paul Jewell should not be under estimated as a manager and I am sure now having seen what you have seen so far, you will remember the name Paul Jewell this time and think, well it is a team managed by him and they wont be a pushover.

Wigan go through in the Carling cup beating Arsenal on Away goals last night. Classic turn of fate. Hahahahahahaha.. Wigan will play either Manchester United or Blackburn depending on the result tonight. Good luck Wigan, you've almost made my season.

lets hope billy davies goes to charlton cos ur still dreamin of the prem league cos ur scum and we r not goin down xxx