Jewell to be given a big budget

However, there is a long way to go before the dream of the Premiership is achieved and the Latics have Ipswich Town breathing right down their necks.

A slip up now could prove costly.

Paul Jewell

Jewell told the Wigan Observer: "No one here is kidding themselves. If we get up we will have to re-evaluate the situation.

"We will have to strenghten the squad quite alot. We'd need to being in at least six or seven new players.

"I don't think I am suprising the players or any of the supporters by saying that. But we want to get up first and we've got to concentrate on these remaining games. We don't want to run before we can walk."

Chairman Dave Whelan, who has offered the squad a million pounds for promotion, confirmed that the manager will be given every chance to keep the club in the top flight should we get there.

He said: "We'll get twenty million for a start if we go up to the Premiership and Paul can rest assured that I will be matching that if we go up.

"If we go up I don't want us to just think about surviving. I want us to set our sights a lot higher and push for Europe.

"There has always been money available for Paul - I have never refused ti give him money for players. But Paul is a shrewd business man and he will only buy who he thinks is right for Wigan Athletic."