Steve Bruce strengthened the squad pre-season with the additions of Middlesbrough’s Lee Cattermole together with Egyptian international Amr Zaki on loan.

Zaki repaid Bruce with a flurry of early-season goals. After losses in the opening two fixtures, Athletic went on an unbeaten run through September but lost all four games in October. November saw form pick up again and Bruce guided his side through a patch of consistent form in which they regularly picked up points and looked more like Europa Cup challengers than relegation fodder. Indeed, the 1-0 win over Hull City at the end of March saw Wigan in seventh place in the Premier League. However a poor run of 6 defeats from the next 7 games saw chairman Dave Whelan’s dreams of European football at the JJB disappear and only a last day win over Portsmouth saw them secure 11^th place.

With the departures of Wilson Palacios and Emile Heskey, Wigan looked to Zaki for more goals but the Egyptian’s goal touch deserted him. The permanent deal that once looked likely evaporated and the post season saw Bruce depart for Sunderland. Roberto Martinez left Swansea to take over and will need to work hard during the summer to build on Bruce’s progress.