Championship outfit Wigan Athletic have been boosted by the news that Gary Caldwell has decided to extend his stay at the club. Captain Caldwell is an important part of the team, but there has been speculation around his future in the last few weeks. Wigan failed to get back into the Premier league after losing in the play-offs last season. Caldwell has been linked with a return to Scotland, but the 32-year-old defender has signed a new contract that will see him embark on a coaching career at the club.
Wigan have revealed that Caldwell will be acting as a coach for all the academy teams this campaign. Since moving to the club from Celtic in 2010, Caldwell has been an important player for the club and has represented them on more than 100 occasions. Last season, he was troubled by a lot of injuries and this saw him make only a handful of appearances. Uwe Rosler praised the 32-year-old following the news that he had decided to extend his stay at the DW stadium. He said that Caldwell is a major influence on the team even when he is not playing. His leadership skills will be a major boost to the young players coming through the academy according to Rosler.
“Whether playing in the team or not, he is someone who can have a big influence here. We’re delighted to be able to call on his experience. We saw at the end of the season what an impact he made with his calmness on the field. It’s part of Gary’s natural development that when he has no first-team duties to fulfil, he will take an active role in coaching at the academy,” said the Wigan manager to the club’s official site. Wigan start the new campaign with a home match against Reading.
