The Price Is Wrong: Wigan look the best of relegated outfits
Published:Relegated from the Premier League as FA Cup champions, and loved by neutrals across the country for their aesthetically pleasing playing style, Wigan look huge at 12/1 to claim next season’s Championship title.
But that price is unlikely to be available for long, and could be long gone by the time Roberto Martinez’s DW Stadium successor is announced.
And therefore, punters are advised to capitalise on such a hefty price now, before a summer of hectic divisional transfer activity properly gets underway.
Whilst 5/1 Championship favourites QPR can point to stability of sorts in a managerial capacity, with Harry Redknapp set to continue at Loftus Road next term, their playing squad looks far less settled.
A side cobbled together, the Rs sport an extortionate wage bill, and are likely to oversee the departures of several important first-team players during the close season.
Also, given that Wigan amassed 11 more Premier League points than the Hoops this term, it is surprising to see them available at more than double their price for the second tier title.
Similarly, Reading finished eight points adrift of the 18th-place Latics this season, and their 10/1 price for glory demonstrates just how much value the 2013 FA Cup winners appear to represent in this market.
From an on-pitch standpoint, Wigan look a remarkably settled outfit with a terrific team spirit embedded within, and their prospects of maintaining the nucleus of the side appear good.
Owner Dave Whelan is under no great pressure to let his better players leave, and whilst the likes of Shaun Maloney and James McCarthy could move on, the emergence of Callum McManaman and return to fitness of Ben Watson can stand them in good stead for a Championship challenge.
Factor in an impressive list of candidates for the imminent vacancy at the helm of the club, and it is easy to argue that the Latics should be nowhere near as big as 12/1 to make an immediate Premier League return via divisional triumph.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
