M.E.N. Sport's focus on Wigan Athletic's struggle to bring in the crowds while sitting at the top of the First Division brought a flood of replies from angry Latics fans. Those included Evening News journalist Alan Wright, who took umbrage with our chief sports writer, Paul Hince, and pens his response, below:
'PAUL Hince this week chose to launch an astonishing attack on the fans of Wigan Athletic. Apparently the column, headed "a town that doesn't want to know", was a rallying cry to the people of Wigan to support their team currently making history at the top of Division One.
Hardly. The statement that Wigan doesn't deserve Wigan Athletic was an insult to the 6,000 who do turn up at the JJB for every home match. And it was a slur on Wigan's incredibly loyal away following.
Paul Hince simply spewed out the views of a host of jealous rivals by sticking to the line that 6,000 is not a lot of people for a team doing so well.
This has been Wigan's greatest-ever season, getting close to the top flight for the first time in their 25 years in the league. They have never been in the Premier League or the old First Division and do not have that traditional support to call on like Burnley or Preston.
That is the kind of support that runs through whole families . . . but it is coming.
Go to the JJB every week and you can seen the enthusiasm growing among kids, mums and dads and grandparents. Wigan Athletic is a team that is growing.
And what about our geographical position in between Manchester United and City, Liverpool and Everton. And don't forget Wigan RL.
We are finally taking fans away from these other teams. Our average gate last season was just under 10,000, not bad for a team averaging 2,000 just 10 years ago.
A lot of bitter people don't like to see our success because of David Whelan's money.
Or could it have something to do with last year's Carling Cup success over Paul's beloved City? (The City side of the JJB was not full that night.)
Or is he still concerned about that play-off farce where Shaun Goater's handball goal gave City fans the right to be so high and mighty.
At that time Paul Hince said if Wigan beat City and were promoted he would throw himself in the Ship Canal - or was it the Irwell? It's a shame he didn't.
Perhaps he would like to visit Wigan town centre and tell folk their town does not deserve a football team. Now that would draw a crowd!'
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mr hince you are a lazy penpusher who wants to do a bit of research before spouting your gob off!we are all tired and bored of the type of tripe you scrawl.check our history ,see the crowds getting bigger.dont call the latics fans we get down and support them.call all the people of wigan for supporting garbage like city,united,liverpool etc.
Paul Hince is spot on. Thank God other people ar ewaking up to what WiganRL fans have been saying for years. WAFC have no place in this town. I keep hearing how interest in the club is booming. Where does this 'boom' manifest itself? Certainly not at the gate. The following that WAFC get clearly shows that there is little interset in the town for what is no more thana rich mans play thing. A soccer club withno historyor tradition. I'll give Latics 5 years before they crash out the league or relocate.