"The young lads have done manful jobs but we don't have the squad for a 46-game league season"

According to manager Iain Dowie, the Latics need “six or seven” new players to see them through to the end of the season. With three suspensions due to start the manager needs to bolster his already wafer this squad. He hopes to talk the two new investors into helping the situation by bolstering the current transfer embargo. The club currently only have permission to sign a goalkeeper and one out-field player.