Jewell's first season was difficult, but you could see he was building up a team who would fight for the Wigan shirt. Out went the money grabbers, and in came palyers such as Matt Jackson, John Filan, Nathan Ellington and Leighton Baines through from the youth.
Jewell was building a family of players, who fought for each other and wore the Wigan shirt with passion and pride.
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By the time Wigan got promoted to the Premier League, it was the same band of players, with just a few additions, that had dragged us from division two relegation fodder, to part of the elite. Alan Mahon joined midway through the first Championship season, who along with Jimmy Bullard and Leighton Baines were the jokers of the pact, and Jason Roberts joined and acted as the big brother to Nathan Ellington.
But then the family began to break up.
Paul Jewell sold Ian Breckin to Nottingham Forest (surprising as many expected him to play in the Premiership) and star striker Nathan Ellington moved on also.
A memorable first season in the Premiership couldn't stop players leaving, with Jimmy Bullard moving on and Jason Roberts following him onto pastures new.
And now, midway through our second season, with Gary Teale departed, just Leighton Baines, Steve McCmillan, John Filan and Lee McCulloch are left of the original family. And with McCulloch wanting to leave, the great spirit and fighting style (once a trade of all Paul Jewell sides) is rapidly diminishing.
Jewell is now in a position like he was in when he first joined the club back in those dark days. He has a squad who seem happy enough to just pick up their wages rather than put 110% into every game.
The biggest difference is that unlike having a year to rebuild a broken side, Jewell has just four months. And he is dealing with Premiership players this time. Good luck.
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