Crewe fans were shocked during the summer when stalwart right back and skipper David Wright left the club to sign for Wigan Athletic for around £500,000. The 23 year old had been at Gresty Road almost as long as Dario Gradi and many felt, Dario included, that David was ready for Premiership football. So givemefootball`s Brian Beard decided to find out the reasons for a move to the JJB Stadium.
Q:OK, CREWE TO WIGAN, IN THE SAME DIVISION, WHY?
A:Basically I see this move as a step up. I think Crewe are looking for a solid mid-table finish next year and Wigan will be looking for promotion to the Premiership so it’s a step in the right direction for me, career wise.
Q:WHAT ABOUT THE ATTENDANCES AT THE JJB, LAST SEASON. PAUL JEWELL WAS BEMOANING GATES OF AROUND 6,000 EVEN WHEN THEY WERE TOP OF DIVISION ONE?
A:I think, although Crewe get similar attendances, the ambition is higher at Wigan. I know they are based where it’s a real rugby town and that affects attendances so I think it would be difficult, all of sudden, to stick another 5,000 on the gate but hopefully if we are doing well a few thousand more might come through the gate.
Q:YOU ARE JUST ONE OF THE NEW ARRIVALS AT WIGAN, WHO ELSE HAVE THE CLUB SIGNED?
A:Per Frandsen has come in from Bolton and David Graham, a centre forward from Torquay United.
Q:THE ARRIVAL OF A QUALITY FORWARD IS GOING TO PUT A BIT OF PRESSURE ON JASON ROBERTS AND NATHAN ELLINGTON?
A:Yes, it will. The manager says that Jason and Nathan are very direct and very powerful and David will give us more options because he is more of a subtle type striker.
Q:HOW HARD WAS IT FOR YOU TO LEAVE CREWE?
A:It was hard. I have a lot of good friends there and when it came to saying goodbye it was difficult. I was at Crewe for 15 years, more than half my life. It was very hard but as far as my career is concerned it was an easy decision. Me and Dario discussed the situation at length and agreed it was the right time for me to go. I felt that my career had got a bit stagnant.
Q:DID DARIO TRY TO PERSUADE YOU TO STAY?
A:I think he accepted it was the right thing for me to do and because we have known each other for 15 years we didn’t have to hide anything from each other. It was a mutually agreed decision.
Q:HAVE YOU STARTED TRAINING WITH WIGAN YET?
A:Yes, we started last week. It’s harder than Crewe in pre-season. We’re doing a lot of running but I am enjoying it because of the differences to what I was used to in Crewe`s pre-season.
Q:HAS PAUL JEWELL INDICATED WHAT YOUR ROLE WILL BE? IT OBVIOUSLY WON’T BE A ‘GOALSCORING FULL BACK’, SORRY DAVE, COULDN`T RESIST?
A:We haven’t really spoken in detail about what he wants from me. I presume he wants the same from me as I did at Crewe. He did ask me if I was comfortable playing at centre half, which I am, so that wouldn’t be a problem. But, hey, I have to get into the team first.
