Dave Whelan has seen it all since he took over the reins of Wigan Athletic back in 1995.
A Division three side at the time, he made a promise to lead the Latics to the Premier League, a dream that was fulfilled a decade later in 2005.
A highly ambitious businessman, even he couldn’t have foreseen the fortunes of the football club since then though.
An ever-present top flight side for the past eight years, the Wigan fans have certainly got their money’s worth with great escape after great escape from the relegation trap door.
There is a feeling of invincibility surrounding the DW Stadium, a refusal to give up their Premier League dream.
They currently sit in the bottom three of the league, but with seven games to go, not many would bet against the Latics keeping their top flight status for yet another season.
An FA Cup run, which has seen them make the final for the first time in their history however, may well divert their attentions away from the league.
Whelan has stated that staying in the top flight is the main aim, but surely a chance to win the world’s oldest cup competition is too big a prize to overlook.
Many football fans have adopted Roberto Martinez’s men as their second club as they defy the odds stacked against them each and every season, but all good things must come to an end, and this may well be the year Wigan’s fire is finally extinguished.
With three of the league’s top four still to play in Man City, Arsenal and Tottenham, you struggle to see where the Latics will pick up enough points to avoid eviction to the Championship.
There is no doubting that they have players of real Premier League pedigree, with the likes of Aroune Kone, James MacArthur and Shaun Maloney able to unlock defences on their day.
The worry will be if Wigan do fail to beat the drop, they could be a few players shy come August.
There are certainly testing times ahead for Wigan. It’s up to the club, Martinez and the top brass to ensure they demonstrate all the character necessary.
Handkerchiefs at the ready Latics fans, it’s going to be an emotional rollercoaster.
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