"Heartbroken" - Wigan Athletic owner Mike Danson slammed after Shaun Maloney exit | OneFootball

The Latics' decision to sack Maloney hasn't gone down well with everyone...

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Wigan Athletic fans were somewhat shocked on Sunday when news emerged of the departure of head coach Shaun Maloney.

Maloney, who was appointed back in January 2023 after the short tenure of Kolo Toure in the Brick Community Stadium hotseat, was a popular figure as a player for the Latics back in his on-pitch career, and he returned to try and save the club from relegation to League One with three months of 2022-23 left.

The Scotsman could not do that successfully, but was tasked with steadying the ship in the third tier by then-new owner Mike Danson, at a time where costs were being cut due to the legacy of the previous Bahraini-led ownership.

Maloney finished 12th with Wigan in League One last season, and after just one league win from their last seven matches, a 2-1 defeat to Reading was the final straw for the hierarchy, who decided to part company with the 42-year-old.

Wigan Athletic: Mike Danson slammed for Shaun Maloney decision

The aforementioned Danson took over Wigan nearly two years ago, rescuing them from potential financial oblivion, but his and the board's decision to remove Maloney from his post has not gone down well.

And FLW's Latics fan pundit Corey Bissell is one of those who is incensed with Maloney's axing, revealing that there is now a 'red mark' on Danson's record for going through with this move.

“We’ve sacked Maloney, and I’m heartbroken," Corey told FLW.

“I am shocked - I am beyond shocked. The timing of it has got to be up there with one of the strangest decisions we’ve ever made as a club. I don’t get it.

“Our season is over, we brought in better players than we had in the first half of the season. The Huddersfield performance was good. In my opinion, the Reading performance wasn’t bad, I don’t think we played bad against Reading.

“So, for that to be the final nail in the coffin is so strange. I didn’t even see this coming, I didn’t think he was anywhere near close to being sacked, so for Reading to be the reason why he’s been removed of his duties, I really don’t understand.

“I think we speak about this idea of the Wigan DNA a lot, and this idea we play positive football based on what we’ve done in the past, and obviously take Maloney out of that and it feels like we’ve ripped that idea up of the Wigan DNA.

"I think managers nowadays are mercenaries like players are, but Shaun Maloney wasn’t. I spoke the other week and was asked about Maloney’s longevity and spoke about how he rejected Swansea when we were in administration and how it felt like he’d stay for a long time, as long as things permitted, but obviously they’ve taken the decision to end that now.

“I’ve had my reservations of the board - this is a massive red mark against their name for me.”

New Wigan Athletic manager will have to work hard to appease fanbase after Shaun Maloney departure

Given how popular Maloney was among Wigan fans, perhaps it wasn't the best time to part company with his services.

Results hadn't been great recently, but it was only last week where WIgan took all three points from promotion-chasing Huddersfield Town, so there's still promise there.

Injuries haven't been too kind to Maloney, with players like Luke Chambers and Silko Thomas sidelined among others, and perhaps that needed to be taken into account when this decision was made.