Gary Caldwell is said to be chomping at the bit to get started with life in Sky Bet League One, following Wigan Athletic's relegation last season.
Caldwell was the surprise choice to take over from Malky Mackay’s ill-fated reign, which came to an end in April 2015 following a 2-0 defeat to at home to Derby County. Although Caldwell was unable to arrest the slide to League One, Wigan returned to preseason training on 25 June and Caldwell is preparing his troops at a training camp in La Manga.
Ready to get going ahead of the new season
The Latics are due to play some training matches against Hibernian and Queen of the South whilst out in Spain and the manager has told the Edinburgh Evening News that he was “surprised” yet “ready” to take on a managerial role - despite being at the relatively tender age of 33 and having no notable coaching experience.
He continued by stating that he has “always been interested in coaching” and was “ready to work as hard as I can” to arrest the slide of the club. After being relegated last year, it was the second relegation in three campaigns for Wigan, with FA Cup success in 2013 a distant memory for supporters.
A former Latics captain, Caldwell spent five-and-a-half years at the DW Stadium during a Wigan’s successful time in the Premier League. This previous experience at the club leads the combative Scotsman to believe that he has a real chance in leading the club to success this season. He states that he “knows the club inside out”.
His playing career took him either side of the border, most notably playing at Coventry City, Celtic, Hibernian as well as representing his country on 55 occasions.
Wigan will kick off their campaign away at Coventry on 8 August 2015, a former club of the manager, hoping that their former captain can return a swift return up the Football League ladder.