A mate of mine helps out at Stanley. A couple of seasons ago, their wage structure was based on a maximum salary of £23k per annum for their top earners. I'm assuming that was basic and any bonuses were on top of that, although it wouldn't surprise me if that £23k figure was the absolute maximum that could be earned. I'm pretty sure they're the lowest payers in the entire league. Oh to be a Naymar!

The sooner it implodes, Tony, the better as far as I'm concerned. If Rovers somehow worked their way back to the top flight under this lot, I'm not sure I would bother going. Meanwhile, over at Witton Albion, the bucket gets passed round and a few coppers get thrown in...

It was a good win Baz. Apart from a twenty minute spell when Salford came back from 12 down to go in front 14-12, I thought we bossed the game and ran out worthy winners, despite poor refereeing both on the pitch and 'upstairs.' Wembley tickets booked and looking forward to a couple of nights away in London. Hull are looking good at the moment, so should be a great game.

Witton Albion 0 Burnley U23s 1 Att 120 Quite an entertaining game despite there being only one shot on target in the entire ninety minutes. Witton were easily the better side in the first half, coming close on a couple of occasions but without testing Burnley's keeper. Burnley scored against the run in play with their first effort of note on the stroke of half time. Whilst Witton had a few half chances in the second half, one that beat the keeper but flew inches wide, the Young Dingles got stronger as the game wore on and had the better of that half. A draw would have been a true reflection of the game. I suspect Burnley's Northern Irish keeper is a decent player. He wasn't tested but had a presence about him, barking instructions out continually and organising from the back. Their left winger Micah somebody or other was tricky and their motm but no one else shone out. If those players were a reflection of their academy's development, it's not doing too well. Not many Buenlah accents around, on or off the pitch.

That's true Gav, last night was a shocker. Needed to win to have a chance of making fourth place by the end of Super 8s. Mathematically, it's still possible but there's something lacking at the club right now.

Just spent three nights/four days in Lloret as a base for watching Wigan at Catalans in Perpignan on Saturday. A great Wigan following of around 1800. The stadium isn't up to much but the atmosphere in the main square in Perpignan was superb. Fourteen coachloads of Wigan fans from the northern Costa Brava area bolstered the numbers already in Perpignan for the game. Good game too, with Wigan getting better as the game progressed and finishing comfortable winners.

Great to see some of the big names back from injury today at a hot and sunny Halliwell Jones Stadium. Finally felt like we had a 'proper' team out after so many injuries. Manfredi, Escare, Clubb and Flower are still out but we now have the basis of a strong team for the rest of the season. I thought we should have won the game by twelve or so points. Some bad luck, poor refereeing and stupid errors kept Warrington in the game right until the end. We rode our luck at the death with Ratchford's half way line penalty veering wide, which would have won them the game, followed by Patton's missed drop goal as the hooter sounded. Wigan, Leeds and Salford through to the semi finals with one of Castleford and Hull FC to make up the four. Can we do it? Not sure but write us off at your peril.

We play hoof ball you know!

Hell's Teeth. If he helps us get promoted next season, that's job done. I wouldn't worry about his second year with us.

Not sure there are many Wigan RLFC voting Tories but I can definitely say our defending last night and also for the last few games has been abysmal. It should have been a superb season after winning the Grand Final and then taking on the role of World Club Champions. We won Super League last year against all odds, despite an injury list second to none. This year the injury situation has been worse with anything from six to ten players missing from the squad week in, week out. To me, it's a psychological now. 'Last year we did it, so we will this year.' However, this year we haven't rolled our sleeves up and got on with it. We have expected it to happen anyway, whilst Castleford, Salford and Wakefield especially have upped their game. To be honest, it's been better for the game and freshened things up at the top. Injuries aside, we still have a strong squad and a production line from the Academy that has given many of the youngsters a chance to shine and many of them have. Marshall is a real gem and has been promoted before his time, so it's not all bad news. We should have had enough to beat Leigh last night but we have the losing habit now and as we all know, once in it, it's difficult to get out of it. We've just got to take it on the chin, shrug our shoulders at the jibes because we are Wigan and keep going. A bit Like Leeds last year. I don't know where the next win is coming from and we may well end up in the Middle 8s. So be it. As far as I'm concerned Shaun Wane is still the right man for the job and he has a bucket load of silverware to prove it. Now where's them effing tablets...

Season ticket sales at Celtic go through the 50k mark.

They did and they did. Congratulations Celtic, a magnificent treble.

Hampden, 57 minutes gone, Celtic 1 Aberdeen 1. Celtic couldn't play any worse if they tried. If they up their game, they'll win it.

Well done Dan. Great read, not sure if that's the right word under the circumstances but you know what I mean!

Witton Albion won their play off final today, beating Spalding 2-1 in front off 811, around 20 from Lincolnshire. Well deserved victory, Witton took the lead midway through the second half only for Spalding to equalise three minutes later with an absolute worldie that Lionel Messi would have been proud of. Spalding's first effort of real note on goal. A knock down from a long ball and their lad hit it on the half volley from around twenty yards out, quite wide. The ball canoned into the top corner like a rocket and also managed a bit of a swerve as well. He'll never hit another like that if he lives to be one hundred. Witton went back in front with twelve minutes remaining and held out for the win. Great celebrations at the end with fans surging onto the pitch in delight. The Evo Stik Premier Division awaits!

Witton Albion finished runners up in the Evo Stik First Division South. On Tuesday evening they beat AFC Rushden & Diamonds 1-0 in the play off semi final. Good game in front of 580 spectators with around 75 making the trip up from Rushden. Saturday sees the Albion at home to Spalding in the play off final. Hoping for another decent crowd and promotion to the Evo Stik Premier Division.

It's much better for the sport when some of the 'smaller' clubs are mixing it up at the top end of the table. Salford are currently another example. I quite like Castleford as a club. The town is probably the smallest in the competition but it's a real Rugby League town. Their supporters match the town and they usually make a right racket at Wigan. However, last Thursday they sang, sang, sang and continued to sing "Shaun Wane's a c**t." If they had sung it once, you could have laughed it off but to sing it continually was too much. There are signs around the ground indicating foul language will not be tolerated and that it can be construed as an offence leading to possible arrest. There are no police (usually) at RL matches, just stewards. None of them appeared to be bothered, whereas I would have started dragging them out, one by one.

I've got the Wigan 8 Manly 2 World Club Challenge game from 1987 on DVD. A tough, tough match and a real arm wrestle. Man of The Match none other than Shaun Wane.

Don't want to keep harping on about injuries but I think most Wigan fans are weary with it. Worse than last season already. Players currently injured, had they been able to play last night, would have walked back into the following positions - Full Back, Right Centre, Right Wing, Left Centre, Left Wing, Hooker, Second Row, Loose Forward. Good luck to Castleford, despite their crass, vulgar support. They play some attractive, exciting rugby but let's see where they are at the business end of the season when it really matters.

Another hard fought win by Witton Albion this afternoon, 3-2 at home to Chasetown, att 345. Albion are now one point behind the league leaders with a game in hand, seven games to go. The fourth game I have been to this season and I am now calling them Albion instead of Witton. You know what that means.

Went to Witton Albion 2 AFC Rushden & Diamonds 0 last night. Hard fought three points with R & D being a bigger set of lads and not a bad team to be honest. Witton relaxed a bit in the second half and started to play some decent football and after 70 mins got their second goal which made the game safe. Witton second in the league, three points behind the leaders with a game in hand. Virtually guaranteed a play off place but with three home games coming up, let's hope they can go up automatically. R & D are a Phoenix club with the original club folding circa 2011 presumably due to financial matters.

Unearthed a gem as well in Liam Marshall. Four tries in only his second SL appearance after debuting against Leigh last week. Another debutant in the young lad Wells who went over for the last try. The production line rolls on and on. I agree about Escare and Sam Tomkins who will struggle to regain his place at fullback when he's fit. Williams is now starting to look the real deal and will have admirers down under. Prior to the game I thought Wire may just sneak it by a few points, so to win like we did was superb. Early days but things are looking good despite the continued injuries. Final mention to Sam Powell covering for Micky McIlorum at hooker, what a great lad, consistently good and an unsung hero.

Any win at Featherstone is a good win TS. You look to have made a good start.

Within a ten miles radius of Northwich there is a plethora of classy restaurants. One of my favourites is Chime in Hartford only five minutes away from where we live. There is a main menu, a Lunch Menu, a Brunch Menu and a Sunday Roast Menu. There is also an extensive drinks menu although the beers are mainly bottled or lager/lager beer from the pumps. It's basically A La Carte with a delicious selection of pizzas and flatbreads. The building is lovely with dining either downstairs (where the bar is) or alternatively upstairs. Prices are very reasonable bearing in mind this is Cheshire. If any of you are down this way, have a look.

At each of the last five clubs he has managed, he has won more games than he has lost and has an overall win rate of 42%. He is well thought of by the supporters of those same clubs and comes across as a decent guy. Bearing in mind our current status and how far we have fallen over the last six years or so, I think we may have been rather fortunate securing his services. Yes, there are one or two names that could be deemed to offer more than him but, would they have come here? I wish him the best.