Sam Morsy holds Wigan ownership change the responsibility for relegation

Wigan Athletic captain Sam Morsy has called the English Football League to look into fixing their regulations for club takeovers by new owners, claiming it’s the main reason behind the club going into adminstration and eventually relegating.

Morsy’s Wigan Athletic have failed to achieve the heroic accomplishment of surviving relegation in the English Championship after drawing against Fulham in the league’s final round.

Wigan had been hit with a tough announcement as the club fell to administration after struggling financially due to the coronavirus outbreak, which meant that they were enforced a 12-point match ban at the end of the season.

Wigan were 13th in the league table before the final game of the season but the 13 points deduction caused them to drop drastically in relegation zone.

“To be relegated like that is unbelievable, to be honest with you. It [club ownership change] hasn’t been handled well. I think they [the EFL] need to look at the rules going forward,” Morsy said.

“The three worst teams who get the least amount of points should be relegated and we all know that. But unfortunately this season it’s going to be decided in the boardroom and not on the football pitch which it should be.”

“It has come out the blue. It wasn’t a case of Wigan having been under investigation for a year and tried to do this and that. In January, we signed a couple of loan players and only one played.”

“It wasn’t like we spent £50m in January to try to survive. It’s not right is it? The new owner should never have been allowed to take over the club.”

“We were actually the first team in the Championship to take our deferral, just because we were getting taken over by new owners.”

“I had assurances from the club that the reason why we were going to be the first was that the new owners were serious about the club and wanted to put money in.”

“The lads have been absolutely amazing, even before coming back. We wanted to just do our best and give it our all. To a man we did, although we didn’t get enough points to stay up with the 12-point deduction, I’m very proud of the players. Every single player sacrificed, so for that you can’t ask for more.”

The 28-year-old midfielder also spoke about Wigan coach Paul Cook who is reportedly on his way out of the club.

“He was led to believe that this summer there would be a little bit of money to spend to further enhance the team.”

“He will feel disappointed as well. I can take failure all day. If you’re not good enough, you’re not good enough. But to get 12 points taken off you at such a late stage is unbelievable.”