He told Latics World, "The first couple of games are all about getting fit, but I'm pleased because we looked sharp and Rhyl gave us a good test. We kept the ball and passed it well in both halves so I'm happy with the workout. I told the lads to concentrate on their fitness; obviously I wanted to win the game but I wasn't going to worry too much about the result. They all worked very hard."
"We lost Gary McDonald in the summer, who got us goals from midfield, and I'm confident Danny Whitaker can do that for us this season. Danny's a neat and tidy player who takes care of the ball, and he'll be a big asset for us because he gets into dangerous positions."