Glenn Whelan takes charge of Wigan after Shaun Maloney sacking

Wigan sit 15th in League One against a 2-1 defeat to Reading on Saturday. 

Glenn Whelan's first game in charge of Wigan will be against Mansfield on Tuesday. Pic: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

Former Ireland midfielder and coach Glenn Whelan has assumed caretaker charge of League One side Wigan Athletic following the sacking of Shaun Maloney.

Saturday’s 2-1 defeat to the Noel Hunt-managed Reading deepened the slump of a club who had designs on promotion to the Championship.

They sit 15th ahead of Tuesday’s first game of Whelan’s tenure against Mansfield, residing a spot beneath.

Whelan, who won 91 caps from 2008 when Giovanni Trapattoni installed him as his midfield bedrock, began his coaching career under former teammate Joey Barton at Bristol Rovers.

He also assisted John O’Shea during his four-game interim spell as Ireland manager last year before joining the Latics.

"During his tenure, Shaun and his young team have provided the club and its supporters with some proud moments, including an Emirates FA Cup tie with Manchester United, as well as three memorable victories over rivals Bolton Wanderers, just to name a few,” Wigan said about ending the Scot’s second spell at the helm.

“Shaun has also helped develop a number of our young players, some of whom have moved on to further their careers to the mutual benefit of the club.

"However, it cannot be overlooked that the current League One campaign has clearly not progressed as anticipated.

“Home results and performances, in particular, have been disappointing and below the standard at which our supporters expect.

“For this reason, the board felt that it was time for a change. The timing of such change will allow the club the necessary time to appoint a successor and enable the club to look forward to the future.

"Wigan Athletic assistant manager, Max Rogers, has also departed. The process of appointing a new Wigan Athletic manager begins immediately. In the interim, first team coach, Glenn Whelan, will take charge of the first team."