Wigan have slashed ticket prices in a bid to get the fans
flocking back to the JJB Stadium and roar the club on to
Premiership survival.
Paul Jewell recently criticised the stay-away supporters who had
turned their back on the club, creating a sterile atmosphere inside
the ground.
As an apparent one-off, the Latics cut prices to just £15 for the
last-gasp 3-2 defeat to Chelsea just before Christmas, sparking a
virtual sell-out.
But the attendance dropped drastically by just over 7,000 for the
crushing 3-0 loss to Blackburn on New Year's Day.
Now Wigan have responded again, with adult tickts £15 for the home
games with Portsmouth, Fulham, West Ham and Middlesbrough, and £20
for the visits of Newcastle, Bolton and Spurs.
Jewell is now hoping the fans will respond and back the players,
with the Latics are just one place and four points off the
relegation zone.
'Everyone saw what a fantastic atmosphere we generated with a
packed JJB Stadium against Chelsea,' said Jewell. 'It was
absolutely rocking and it had a big impact on the performance of
the players.
'The lads were buzzing in the dressing room to be playing in front
of a noisy and passionate full house and we want to try and
re-create that from now until the end of the season.
'To have a full stadium gives the players a massive lift and I'm
behind any project which aims to get the people of Wigan in through
the door and backing the team.
'We need the Wigan fans to be our 12th man. They will play a
crucial role for the remaining matches of the season.
'These are crucial times for this club. I hope the supporters will
join with us for the battle.'
Jewell hopes to learn before the end of the week if a deal can be
agreed to re-sign their former striker Nathan Ellington.
The Latics are in discussions with West Brom for the player they
sold in July 2005, having made an offer in the region of
£2million.
The Baggies are thought to be holding out for around £3million for
the 25-year-old but negotiations will continue.
'We will see what happens in the next 48 hours, but I do expect
some sort of outcome one way or another,'' the player's agent Tony
Finnigan said.
Ellington scored 67 goals in three seasons with Wigan to help them
into the Premiership but left after failing to agree a new
contract.