Wigan manager (and former team-mate) Maloney wants James McClean to stay on for at least another year after his contract expires this summer, to help to lead the Wigan Athletic rebuild - whether in the Championship or League 1. (Wigan Today, 28 April).
It will be League 1 if he stays. No question he's a Championship level player - but at the same time we know every Championship team would think twice before signing him and we know it's not for footballing reasons. A strong chance he stays at Wigan I suspect.
Keane O'Shea Given Best Smallbone
If you read on in the quotes it sounds like he's considering going back to Derry. However, as mentioned in the papers today, that makes his chances of getting the additional two caps a little slimmer unless he gets them against Greece and Gibraltar. Which, injury barring, I think he will.
I would have thought he has another season or two in the Championship in him before another season or two at Derry. He is a machine. But he may not want to take that risk of not being capable or not doing himself justice at Derry at the age of 35 or 36.
It will be good craic at the Aviva in June when he gets his 100th v Gibraltar.
Would be great to see him return to play at home for a few seasons this summer. He'd still have it in him to give a good few seasons to Derry given his fitness. Given how so many fans of other teams love McClean I think Eirambler is probably right in that he'd stay with Wigan if he remains in England. The vast majority at Wigan seem to love him and vice versa it's somewhere that he looks to be happy at.
At this stage in his career I don't think playing LOI or League One is gonna make much difference in terms of being called up for Ireland. Exceptions were made with Knight and Hourihane as no other League One players were called up. Think the same exceptions would be made for McClean especially till this campaign is over.
Once this campaign is over surely we'd be looking to move on from someone that'll be 35 next year and turns 36 after the first round of 2026 WC qualifiers.
The best of the worst.
Blackpool were marginally worse, to be fair!
Keane O'Shea Given Best Smallbone
Wigan the worst, but that due to a points deduction to be totally accurate.
Anyway, let's give Manning his long deserved chance...
Signs a new deal with Wigan. They released their retained list and McClean is listed as being contacted for the 23/24 season.
Will probably get to 100 caps in June. However, if O'Dowda and Manning start next season well he may struggle for further appearances after that. Especially as Doherty can cover that position also. May pick up a few more later in the year though as Kenny has always liked him and doesn't seem to be a big fan of Manning.
Keane O'Shea Given Best Smallbone
Turns out he signed his new deal back in the summer and was never out of contract this summer. Similar to Keane who signed a three year deal last summer and no news about it till someone asked Maloney about it last month.Originally Posted by JR89
Wigan will start the 2023/24 season in EFL 1 on minus 8 points, because of failure to pay staff on time this month (BBC Sport, today).
They seem quite an unstable club just now.
Preferable that McClean and Keane go elsewhere.
And, you know, every other player in their squad
HMRC have issued winding up petition against Wigan. Hearing date set for 26 July. I'd say lads can except no wages this Friday and being told find new clubs.
He'll wish he was back home in Derry.
Stephen Kenny Saviour, Leader, Winner, An Autobiography - In All Good Bookstores Now
‘Irish transfer news’ doesn’t really care about them though
Id forgotten Scully was with Wigan. Its not that long ago an Irish manager was being told he didnt know what he was doing when he wasnt calling Scully up to squad.
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