When asked about the transfer manager Paul Jewell said: "I'm very pleased to have finally secured Jason's signature as it's been well documented that he's a player we've wanted for some time. I feel he's an excellent signing for us and I'm very excited about the talents he brings to this club.Roberts signs for Wigan: Comprehensive Report
When asked about the transfer manager Paul Jewell said: "I'm very pleased to have finally secured Jason's signature as it's been well documented that he's a player we've wanted for some time. I feel he's an excellent signing for us and I'm very excited about the talents he brings to this club."Obviously what happened back in August was disappointing but that's water under the bridge now and in football you have to move on. Getting this deal done now is a lot down to Jason's desire to come here and he deserves great credit for that as it is refreshing to see.
"He's taken quite a pay cut to come to the JJB Stadium and, to be honest, it's because of the fact that he made it clear he wanted this move that the deal has come about. He's a proven goalscorer at this level and was certainly one of West Brom's best players when they were promoted from Division One a couple of seasons ago. He has been my first choice to bring in since the very start of the season and, though it didn't happen back in August, I'm sure it will be worth the wait.
"He feels he has a point to prove to some people and hopefully he can do that here. He has power, pace and also has an eye for goal and I'm sure our supporters will really take to him. If he reproduces the form I know he's capable of then he will be a real threat and will help add even more competition for the attacking places in our side. That's what it's all about and we need new additions and hopefully Jason will be the first of a couple more players we can bring in."
While the West Brom chairman Jeremy Pearce added: "Jason's representative made it absolutely clear to me that Jason had no desire whatsoever to return to this club at any time. Jason's problems here in the past have been well documented but I was told that this didn't affect the situation. Jason just didn't want to come back to Albion.
While the West Brom chairman Jeremy Pearce added: "Jason's representative made it absolutely clear to me that Jason had no desire whatsoever to return to this club at any time. Jason's problems here in the past have been well documented but I was told that this didn't affect the situation. Jason just didn't want to come back to Albion."Therefore, it was down to the club to get the best possible price for Jason and we think the deal with Wigan is a very good one in what is a depressed transfer market. We wish Jason all the best in his future career."
The man himself, Jason Roberts has said: "I am delighted to announce that I have jsut signed a three and a half year contract with Wigan. This is a fantastic opportunity for me and will give me the chance to be playing week in week out.
"For me, Wigan are a club that are going places and when they bought my old Bristol Rovers strike partner Nathan Ellington I knew that they had a lot of ambition.
"Wigan did fantastict get promoted last season and I think over the next couple of terms they have a fantastic chance of making the step up to the Premiership. Having said that, they are already in amoungst it in the First Division and they're realistically lloking at those play-offs right now.
"Paul Jewell has had the experience of being promoted with Bradford into the Premiership, so I'm sure he's hungry to do that again at Wigan.
"Having spent the season so far at a Premiership club, I don't see joining Wigan as in anyway a step down. Wigan are a side on the up and I've got no negative thoughts whatsoever about joining the First Dvision.
"The most important thing is that I'm playing every week. No club can guarantee that but I've got a great chance of getting a lot of first team action now I'm at the JJB. I feel now like my career is back on track and I'm just raring to get back in action.
"I've already looked at a few houses in Bolton but I'm going to be staying with Nathan while I get sorted and having a close friend already at the club will really help me settle in.
"And anyway, I've been speaking to Nathan a lot about Wigan since he joined the club so I feel like I know the place already!
"First up, we play Preston at the weekend. Two years ago at Deepdale I broke my foot but this won't be worrying me if I play on Saturday. I'll just be out there to score goals for my new club."
Roberts then spoke to the official site after his first training session. He added "I'm delighted to be a Wigan Athletic player and once I knew that teh club were back in for me it was a move I really wanted. Back in August I'd turned down two Premiership clubs to come here, but then I felt I had to go and give it a go at Portsmouth when they came in at the last minute. Emotions ran high after that happened but we're all treating that as water under the bridge here and all we're concentrating on is the situation now.
"I've had a frustrating couple of years and what I want to do now is get back to playing regular first team football, and thought I'm not guaranteed that here, that's what I am looking to get. From my first session with the lads it's obvious we have some very good payers and my mate 'the kid' (Nathan Ellington) as we all called him at Bristol Rovers, has been telling what a good place this is to play.
"Linking up with him again is also a major reason why I've come here and I am going to move in with him until I get a place of my own for me and my wife sorted. To be fair he owes me for when he moved in with me down in Bristol so the least he can do is repay the debt!
"Another factor in me coming here is the desire that this club have shown to bring me in. A couple of weeks ago I heard there was interest, and thought there was the chance to stay at Portsmouth, once I knew Wigan wanted me permanently I was desperate to come. I see this as a club going places and I want to be part of that. It's a fresh start for me and that's exciting too and I'm looking to prove myself to everyone as soon as I can.
"I've spoken at length to the gafer and we've got on wel and knowing that he really wanted me here is a great feeling. I want to bring goals with me to the JJB and previously I've been lloking to get a goal every other game at my previous clubs. My target will be the same here and I'm hopeful I can live up to that standard.
"If selected I couldn't have a bigger game to start in than the one at Preston on Saturday and it really is a game that we are all looking forward to. The club have done great to establish themselves in this division so quickly and hopefully I can fire the goals that will help us push on once again. We're seventh at the moment and right in the play-off hunt, but we must look to finish as well as we possibly can.
"It's been well documented that things had gone stale for me at West Brom and though I loved most things about the club itself, I'm glad that I now have the chance to make a frehs start.
"I can't wait to get started here now and like I said, all I want to do is get back to pkaying football to show what I can do. I've signed a three and a half year deal here and would like to move forward with the club during that time. I'll be moving north perminently as soon as I can because thats the way I want to do things. What happened back in August was a shame but that's water under the bridge now and I guarantee everyone that I'm fully committed to my move here an that I'm really excited about it."
The man himself, Jason Roberts has said: "I am delighted to announce that I have jsut signed a three and a half year contract with Wigan. This is a fantastic opportunity for me and will give me the chance to be playing week in week out.
"For me, Wigan are a club that are going places and when they bought my old Bristol Rovers strike partner Nathan Ellington I knew that they had a lot of ambition.
"Wigan did fantastict get promoted last season and I think over the next couple of terms they have a fantastic chance of making the step up to the Premiership. Having said that, they are already in amoungst it in the First Division and they're realistically lloking at those play-offs right now.
"Paul Jewell has had the experience of being promoted with Bradford into the Premiership, so I'm sure he's hungry to do that again at Wigan.
"Having spent the season so far at a Premiership club, I don't see joining Wigan as in anyway a step down. Wigan are a side on the up and I've got no negative thoughts whatsoever about joining the First Dvision.
"The most important thing is that I'm playing every week. No club can guarantee that but I've got a great chance of getting a lot of first team action now I'm at the JJB. I feel now like my career is back on track and I'm just raring to get back in action."I've already looked at a few houses in Bolton but I'm going to be staying with Nathan while I get sorted and having a close friend already at the club will really help me settle in.
"And anyway, I've been speaking to Nathan a lot about Wigan since he joined the club so I feel like I know the place already!
"First up, we play Preston at the weekend. Two years ago at Deepdale I broke my foot but this won't be worrying me if I play on Saturday. I'll just be out there to score goals for my new club."
Roberts then spoke to the official site after his first training session. He added "I'm delighted to be a Wigan Athletic player and once I knew that teh club were back in for me it was a move I really wanted. Back in August I'd turned down two Premiership clubs to come here, but then I felt I had to go and give it a go at Portsmouth when they came in at the last minute. Emotions ran high after that happened but we're all treating that as water under the bridge here and all we're concentrating on is the situation now.
"I've had a frustrating couple of years and what I want to do now is get back to playing regular first team football, and thought I'm not guaranteed that here, that's what I am looking to get. From my first session with the lads it's obvious we have some very good payers and my mate 'the kid' (Nathan Ellington) as we all called him at Bristol Rovers, has been telling what a good place this is to play.
"Linking up with him again is also a major reason why I've come here and I am going to move in with him until I get a place of my own for me and my wife sorted. To be fair he owes me for when he moved in with me down in Bristol so the least he can do is repay the debt!
"Another factor in me coming here is the desire that this club have shown to bring me in. A couple of weeks ago I heard there was interest, and thought there was the chance to stay at Portsmouth, once I knew Wigan wanted me permanently I was desperate to come. I see this as a club going places and I want to be part of that. It's a fresh start for me and that's exciting too and I'm looking to prove myself to everyone as soon as I can.
"I've spoken at length to the gafer and we've got on wel and knowing that he really wanted me here is a great feeling. I want to bring goals with me to the JJB and previously I've been lloking to get a goal every other game at my previous clubs. My target will be the same here and I'm hopeful I can live up to that standard.
"If selected I couldn't have a bigger game to start in than the one at Preston on Saturday and it really is a game that we are all looking forward to. The club have done great to establish themselves in this division so quickly and hopefully I can fire the goals that will help us push on once again. We're seventh at the moment and right in the play-off hunt, but we must look to finish as well as we possibly can.
"It's been well documented that things had gone stale for me at West Brom and though I loved most things about the club itself, I'm glad that I now have the chance to make a frehs start.
"I can't wait to get started here now and like I said, all I want to do is get back to pkaying football to show what I can do. I've signed a three and a half year deal here and would like to move forward with the club during that time. I'll be moving north perminently as soon as I can because thats the way I want to do things. What happened back in August was a shame but that's water under the bridge now and I guarantee everyone that I'm fully committed to my move here an that I'm really excited about it."