KEANE FEAT

Will at the double for champs Latics

RICH FEWLASS

BOSS Leam Richardson was quick to credit those around him as he saw Wigan finally seal the League One title with victory at Shrewsbury.

A 43rd-minute own goal from Josh Vela and a second-half brace from Will Keane ensured that Latics finally got themselves over the line after no win in their last five matches.

Richardson said: “It doesn’t come without the fans spending, not the money, but the time to travel up and down the country, journeys back from Portsmouth. However hard that they are, this

makes them all worthwhile. We started with three players, with no staff, with no recruitment.

We’ve been through all that but to come together so quickly has been complimentary to the group of people and the professionals that they are. I’ve been fortunate at most clubs I’ve worked at to achieve something and sometimes you’ve got to give your experience into them as well.

“Football is made up of small inches and small margins.

“And if you work tirelessly every day, you’ll get those small margins and when you need to get over the line this means so much for the supporters.” On what it felt like to achieve his first promotion in management, Richardson added: “My first thoughts are about the support I get from my family, the support that I get from my staff and the players.

“There’s a lot that has gone on this year, there have been a lot of challenges that we’ve had to strive for, make those steps forward, and overcome. “

Shrews boss Steve Cotterill was quick to praise Wigan’s successes.

He said: “Congratulations to them. It’s a long season and I believe the team who wins the league deserves to win it.

“It was always going to be a difficult game, however, it was made a little bit more difficult just before half-time.”