Wigan Athletic’s playing staff have received their unpaid wages, while chief executive Mal Brannigan has resigned from the Championship club.
‘Liquidity problems’ were blamed by the club on late payments this month, before they were moored three points by the English Football League (EFL).
The players had published an open letter earlier on Friday saying they had been “disrespected” by the club.
President Talal Al Hammad said the late payment of wages “will never happen again”.
“I think it’s important to be as honest and open with you as possible. As the Club’s statement dated March 10 indicates, we had a cash flow problem which caused the delay,” Al said. Hammad in a letter to fans. on the club’s website.
“This problem is now solved and I can assure you that the delay in payment of wages will not happen again. It simply cannot happen again.
“I appreciate that you have heard this message from me before and as I have said from day one and as you have rightly reminded me, actions speak louder than words. This is something something that I now have to prove to you and I have to rebuild trust with our players, the staff and of course, you, the fans.”
Ahead of the club’s payment of wages, the Latics’ playing staff claimed the club had previously provided “inaccurate information” about when they would be paid.
Wigan’s points deduction left them eight points safe in the Championship relegation battle, with eight games remaining, and their next game is against fellow wrestlers Queens Park Rangers.
The Latics have also been charged with misconduct for failing to meet the terms of their agreement with the league and will face an independent disciplinary committee on further charges.
“We are all proud to play for WAFC, and we recognize that it has been a difficult season,” the players’ statement read.
“We have repeatedly received inaccurate information about when unpaid wages will be paid.
“And it’s not the first time this has happened to us this season. The disrespect this shows to all members of staff at the club is not acceptable, and that needs to change.”
Wigan will now ‘operate within its means’
Defender Steven Caulker criticized club ownership in a post on his LinkedIn page before the announcement of player payments and Brannigan’s departure.
The club’s staff had been paid last week but player salaries, which form the bulk of the club’s expenditure, have been delayed for more than two weeks.
Brannigan had flown to Bahrain last weekend to “seek clarification” from Al Hammad, with manager Shaun Maloney saying the search for his successor will now begin.
Al Hammad also said that following last weekend’s meeting, the club will now take a new strategic direction with an emphasis on operating “within their means”.
“It is important for us to be fiscally responsible in the future, and we are fully committed to doing so,” he added.
“From next season we will operate within our means and we will prioritize maintaining a strong financial position. Our strategies for the next transfer window and beyond will take this into account and we are determined to build a future. sustainable for the club with a modern data-driven approach.”
