When Wigan Athletic offered Leam Richardson a new three-year deal a fortnight ago, the timing did not feel coincidental. Richardson, after all, had caught the eye of Championship rivals West Bromwich Albion, after all.
The Baggies, after sacking Steve Bruce, wanted a talented, up-and-coming coach with a proven track record in the EFL. It made sense, then, that a 42-year-old who took over as caretaker when Wigan were bottom of League One and then led them to the third-tier title in less two years later would join the likes of Carlos Corberan, Steven Schumacher and Rob Edwards on their managerial wish-list.
And when the news broke towards the end of October that Richardson would be committing his future to the Latics, putting pen to paper on a new deal, the feelings of chairman Talal Al-Hammad were shared by many of a Wigan persuasion.
“We are extremely delighted to announce the renewal of Leam Richardson’s contract for the next three years,” Al-Hammad tweeted.
Wigan Athletic sack former West Brom target Leam Richardson
Richardson’s sacking, then, just two weeks later, certainly feels like one in the eye for those bemoaning a death knell for loyalty in the modern game. A reminder of how quickly things can change in this most fickle of games. So soon after Richardson committed his allegiances to Wigan, a club who were on their knees when the Leeds-born coach took over from John Sheridan opted not to return the favour.
Then again, it would be churlish to ignore recent results. Richardson’s popularity has been one the wane amongst some sections of the Wigan fanbase for a small while now. The inevitable by-product of a seven-game winless run, consisting of six defeats. A run that has Wigan second from bottom in the table, just two points above Huddersfield Town.
“You can’t feel sorry for yourself,” Richardson said following the 2-0 midweek defeat at Coventry City. “And (we) won’t feel sorry for ourselves. We knew our challenge last summer; coming into this league, with the group that we had. We knew it would be challenging.”
It’s a challenge Richardson, the Wigan board seem to believe, was not up to.
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