Former Celtic Midfielder Sacked by League 1 Club

Former Celtic star and ex-Hibernian manager Shaun Maloney has been sacked by Wigan Athletic following a 2-1 defeat to Reading in League One, the club have announced.

That result extended a poor run for the Latics, who have managed just one win in their last seven games, leaving them 15th in the table, just six points above the relegation zone.

Maloney took charge in January 2023 but was unable to keep Wigan in the Championship. Despite an eight-point deduction last season, he led them to a respectable 12th-place finish in League One. However, with a clean slate this campaign, Wigan have struggled to get going and currently hold the worst goal-scoring record in the division, with just 31 goals in 34 games.

The decision to part ways with the former Celtic playmaker comes amid growing frustration from Wigan supporters, who had higher expectations after last season’s stability.

With Maloney now out the door, former Hearts and Stoke City midfielder Glenn Whelan has been appointed interim manager.

Whelan, who had a brief spell at Tynecastle in the 2019/20 season, will now be tasked with steadying the ship as Wigan aim to avoid being dragged into a relegation scrap.

It remains to be seen who Wigan will turn to next, but for Maloney, it’s another setback in his young managerial career after a short-lived stint at Hibs.

“You run the risk when you’re challenging like that and you follow it right through. For me, it’s a penalty kick, and by the way, it’s above the ankle as well.”

 

James McFadden ‘can’t believe’ St Mirren did not get a penalty vs Celtic

Boyd’s co-pundit, James McFadden, agreed that a penalty should have been given but did explain the reason why VAR thought the challenge by Alistair Johnston on St Mirren’s Roland Idowu was legal.

McFadden said, “They said if there is a touch on the ball, it’s a natural football contact. That’s a penalty for me.