Chimbonda showed "tremendous disrespect"
Posted by liam_wafc in Wigan | 9 May 2006
When asked about how he felt about Chimbonda's surprise transfer request, Jewell replied "To say i was livid would be an understatement." Jewell speaks on behalf of every Wigan fan in that statement.
For anyone who doesn't know the full story, let me explain to you why Pascal Chimbonda has gone from a cult Latics legend, to the most hated man in Wigan.
As soon as the final whistle blew on the final game at Highbury, and all the players headed to their respective changing rooms, Pascal Chimbonda made a bee line for his kit bag and pulled out two letters. He turned to Paul Jewell, who was still congratulating his palyers on a fantastic season, and whilst still in his full Wigan kit, handed to him both letters.
The first was a written transfer request, something that his agent Willie McKay later claimed was "panicked." How a written transfer request that was put in his kit bag can be "panicked" is beyond me.
The second was a letter thanking Paul Jewell for all his help this season. It was later revealed again by Willie McKay that Chimbonda only ever saw Wigan as a stepping stone in Pascals' bid to play for one of the top, top clubs in Europe. He says this despite Chimbonda signing a four-year-deal, something Chimbonda may rue signing.
Now everyone is caught up, you can understand how Chimbonda has shown the club and all his fans a tremendous amount of disrespect. it's not the fact that he is leaving, but the way he went about proclaiming his wanting away.
Now everyone is caught up, you can understand how Chimbonda has shown the club and all his fans a tremendous amount of disrespect. it's not the fact that he is leaving, but the way he went about proclaiming his wanting away. To do it right after the final game, still in his Wigan kit is typical of this generations footballers, the ones who show no loyalty to their clubs and only worry about the amount of money in their pocket.
But with Chimbonda (pictured), the Latics fans genuinley believed that he was loyal to Wigan. After all, it was Wigan who gave him his chance, it was Wigan who gambled on him, it was Wigan who gave him his name, and it is now Wigan who can strip him of all that he is.
Our Chairman Dave Whelan, a man you don't want to anger, was enraged by Chimbonda's actions, and has slapped a £6million price tag on his head, something Paul Jewell fully agrees with. Chimbonda's agent again had something to say, claiming nobody will pay such an amount, Tottenham willing to buy him but not for that amount. McKay believes £3.5million is more realistic. Sadly for Chimbonda, he signed a new four-year contract just 6 months ago, and so Wigan can demand what we want.
Whelan said that if no-one comes up with £6million, then he will let CHimbonda "rot away in the reserves till the final day of his contract." And let me say this, you many not believe Whelan would do that, but Whelan does. You may say Whelan won't pay Chimbonda's wages only for him to play in the reserves, but for revenge, he will, after all, whats better revenge than refusing the move Chimbonda wants?
You may think i'm being very harsh, but i'm only writing what every Latics fan feels. never before have the Latics faithful taken to a player with such ease, cheering his name after just one friendly. Chimbonda has broken our trust and spat in our faces with his actions, and you will find many people in Wigan who would rather watch Chimbonda's career rot away in the reserves, than sell him for £6million.
