Wigan Athletic players REFUSE to train as they await unpaid wages for the FIFTH time this season

Wigan Athletic players have refused to train as they await unpaid wages for the fifth time this season. 

The Latics currently sit bottom of the Championship and serious concerns have previously been raised over the financial situation.

Wigan have failed to pay players on four separate occasions and resultantly received a three-point deduction from the English Football League this week.

After group meetings, the players have now decided to stay away from training until the issue is resolved, according to Wigan Today.

Centre-back Steven Caulker hit out at the owner’s ‘scandalous lies’ quoting Julian Assange in a LinkedIn post. 

Wigan Athletic centre-back Steven Caulker, 31, hit out at the owner’s ‘scandalous lies’

Wigan players have refused to train as they await unpaid wages for the fifth time this season

He wrote: ‘This lies us as players have been told by Wigan Athletic F.C. is absolutely scandalous.

‘There may be reasons for late payment once or twice, but for the boys to have experienced this 5 times this season is completely unacceptable. 

‘We are told as players every day that the money is on its way and will “hopefully” reach our account by the afternoon. 14 days later, the money still hasn’t arrived.’

The 31-year-old continued: ‘Furthermore, what is more concerning is that we are due to be paid again on the 7th of April and the club are unable to confirm whether they will have enough funds for this.

‘Since I arrived at this club I have seen the players and backroom staff work tirelessly to try keep this club in the championship. It’s really painful to now see that task become harder and harder each passing day.

‘As the famous saying goes “Being silent while witnessing an injustice makes you guilty of the oppression as well”. Well, my position is clear, I stand with the honest hard working staff and players, whose mental health is now being affected by this.’ 

The former Premier League club, who also won the FA Cup in 2013, play Queens Park Rangers on April 1, but the fixture is now at risk of being cancelled. 

Phoenix 2021 Limited completed its takeover of Wigan in March 2021, with Talal Al Hammad as the club’s chairman.

Caulker quoted Julian Assange in a LinkedIn post writing ‘the money still hasn’t arrived’