Wigan Athletic boss Ryan Lowe has confirmed a trio of his first team squad are free to look for other clubs as he looks to get the numbers down at the DW Stadium.
Lowe confirmed that first team trio Josh Robinson, Ronan Darcy and Dion Rankine are free to leave. Despite only joining in January, Robinson and Darcy appear to be heading for the exit door.
A Successful Summer Already?
The Latics have had a successful summer of shopping with no fewer than eight new arrivals for the club. These include the experienced Paul Mullin, who arrives from Championship side Wrexham and Dara Castelloe from Premier League new boys Burnley.
Alongside those two, Wigan Athletic have also signed Morgan Fox, Fraser Murray, Callum Wright, Cristian Saydee, Ryan Trevitt, Kai Payne and Isaac Mabaya as Ryan Lowe looks to build a squad to challenge at the right end of League One.
It proved to be a fruitful debut for Fraser Murray who scored a double on debut following his arrival from Scottish Premier League side Kilmarnock. Wigan Athletic boss Ryan Lowe said he could see the potential when he signed, speaking to the club website he said:
“Fraser is a player we’ve been tracking over a period of time, and following his departure from Kilmarnock, we have moved quickly to bring him to our Football Club. He can play either wing back or as an attacking midfielder, who will score and assist goals.”
“There will be a few now who will be going out,” confirmed Lowe, speaking to Wigan Today.
“We’ve told Josh Robinson he can go out and play a few games, because we haven’t seen enough of him.
“Ronan Darcy can go and play a few games somewhere else, he’s a great lad, the same as Dion Rankine.
“They’re all great lads, but unfortunately don’t fit the style of play we’re trying to bring in here, and what I’m asking them to do.
“That’s nothing against them, because they train hard every single day, and they are good kids.
“But we’ve had to make them available to free up positions in the squad, and there will probably be two or three more further down the line, over the next couple of weeks.
“With Dion, I think he wants to play more as a winger than a wing-back.
“Josh is more of a right-back, whereas we’re looking for someone who can play wing-back.
“And Darce is a No.10, which unfortunately I’m not going to be playing with this season.
“Again, that’s nothing against them, they are all good players and good kids, and I’m sure there will be clubs who would like to take them on loan.
“Everyone else is part of my plans, unless they tell me otherwise, if that makes sense.
“Listen, we just want a competitive squad, and we’ve certainly got that when everyone is fit, but injuries will always play a big part.”
What Now For The Trio?
None of the trio played on Saturday as the Latics opened the season with a resounding 3-1 victory against Northampton Town at the DW Stadium.
At just 20 years of age, it is more likely Robinson will head out on loan following his arrival from Arsenal in January. Upon joining the DW Stadium outfit, he signed a deal with the Latics until 2028.
Following Lowe’s comments about not playing a ‘number ten’ it could well be that Darcy leaves permanently despite only joining the club in January from Crawley Town.
Rankine arrived from Chelsea last summer, following a loan spell at Exeter City. The 22 year old played 20 times for Wigan athletic last season.
Rankine has been strongly linked with a move to League Two club Crewe Alexandra.
What do you think the future holds for the trio? and are Wigan letting them leave too easily? let us know in the comments!
