Hes key to Hutchings axe

League Managers’ Association vice-chairman Frank Clark believes the loss of Emile Heskey to injury played a pivotal part in Chris Hutchings’ departure from Wigan yesterday.

Hutchings was promoted following Paul Jewell’s resignation at the end of last season but won only two of his 13 matches in charge and saw the Latics slip into the bottom three following the 2-0 defeat to Chelsea on Saturday.

Heskey suffered a broken metatarsal in the 1-1 home draw with Fulham on September 15 and Hutchings could only watch as his side capitulated in the England striker’s absence.

Six straight defeats following Heskey’s injury sealed Hutchings’ fate, but Clark, who has already expressed his displeasure at the swiftness of the 50-year-old’s departure, believes there could have been a different outcome had Heskey not been sidelined.

“I know they are struggling a little bit towards the wrong end of the league and they’ve had their injury problems,” Clark told PA Sport.

“They lost Emile when he was flying and it’s very difficult when you lose your key players these days because you can’t bring anyone in until January when the transfer window opens. That makes it very difficult for managers.

“I know the chairman at Wigan has put a lot of money in and has done a fantastic job to get them where they are.

“But it’s difficult for them to carry a staff of top quality players. When you lose your key player, like Heskey was at that time, it’s very difficult to deal with that.”

Clark insists there will be an avalanche of applicants for the vacant manager’s post at JJB Stadium and hopes that chairman Dave Whelan does not rush the appointment.

“There will be a flood of applicants, I’m sure,” he added.

“All the lads who are out of work will be getting their CVs out of the draw and getting them out in the post. And let’s hope they (Wigan) get what they consider to be the right man this time.”