Whelan: Paul has cracked
up
WIGAN supremo Dave Whelan has revealed the desperate battle to stay
in the Premiership took a heavy toll on Paul Jewell. Stressed-out
Jewell handed in his resignation just hours after the Latics
dramatic 2-1 victory at Sheffield United on Sunday kept them in the
top flight. Yet the decision to quit came as no surprise to Whelan,
who had watched his managers well-being slowly deteriorate in
recent months.
The pressure he was under also affected his marriage and family
life and has left him needing a six-month break from football.
Jewell even turned down the chance to spend a month in Barbados
thinking over the future, as chairman Whelan fought to keep him at
the JJB Stadium.
Whelan, who has appointed Jewells No 2 Chris Hutchings as his new
boss, said: Pauls health has deteriorated over the last two or
three months. He has not been the same man and Ive had to lift his
spirits. Thats not Paul Jewell. Its usually him lifting my
spirits.
I know he has been falling out with his wife and family, so the
pressure has told on him. Everyone knows what hes like. Hes so
bubbly but he hasnt been his normal self. I offered him the
chance to have a few weeks at my holiday home in Barbados and then
see what he thought about it.
He said Thank you but I need six months rest minimum. And I
agree with him. Ive seen his health and mind recently. Whelan
believes the massive financial incentives on offer in the
Premiership had become a heavy burden for Jewell to cope with. He
added: Our game on Sunday alone was worth £40million and one man
is responsible for that. "It could be £100m if you stay up for
another year after that and its an enormous amount of
pressure.
Whelan assumed Jewell had another job lined up when he handed in
his notice but now believes he just wants a break. He added: When
he told me, I asked him Who are you going to work for? He said no
club has approached him. He does tell the truth, he never hides and
he never lies. He has to have six months off.
Whelan is sure Hutchings will prove the doubters wrong and show he
can be a successful Premiership boss. Hutchings one previous
management spell was an ill-fated stint in charge of Bradford City
at the start of the 2000-01 season again following in Jewells
footsteps. He won just one of 12 Premiership games against
Chelsea and the Bantams finished up relegated.
