Jewell Tops Wigan's Wish List

In Dave Whelan's ideal world he would not be holidaying in Barbados while Paul Jewell swings his golf clubs in Dubai; they would be together again in Wigan, reviving the success story that took the Latics from the third tier of English football to the Premier League and a place in the League Cup final against Manchester United. That is the romantic view. The reality is that the Wigan chairman would have to be at his persuasive best to convince his former manager to return to the JJB Stadium as Chris Hutchings' successor.

Graeme Souness remains the front runner to replace Hutchings, who was sacked on Monday only 12 games into his Wigan tenure but with the club slumping into the relegation zone on the back of six consecutive defeats. Yet Jewell is high on Whelan's shortlist only six months after the former Bradford City manager resigned his post.

It is understood that Jewell has been made aware of interest from a chairman with whom he enjoyed a close working relationship for six years and that he is ready to return to the game. Whether that will be at the JJB is doubtful, unless Whelan can persuade Jewell that he will have the transfer funds necessary to transform the club. Jewell quit less than 24 hours after saving Wigan from relegation on the final day of last season citing problems in attracting talent to the JJB.

Souness represents a more straightforward - and swifter - choice given his desire to return to management. Stuart Pearce is another admired by Whelan but he has pledged to honor his contract as England's Under-21 head coach. Whelan's list of candidates also reportedly includes the Scotland manager, Alex McLeish, but the current caretaker manager, Frank Barlow, has ruled himself out.