Owen Coyle has revealed he was left with just nine players after replacing Roberto Martinez as Wigan manager.
Coyle made his 10th signing of the summer on Thursday when he snapped up Republic of Ireland international James McClean from Sunderland.
He still has £1million in reserve following the exits of Arouna Kone and Mauro Boselli, and it does not appear he has abandoned all hope of spending it either.
Certainly the huge number of reinforcements were required following the mass exodus of out-of-contract stars following Wigan's slide into the Championship.
"I inherited a squad of 11 first-team players," said Coyle, ahead of Sunday's Community Shield encounter with Manchester United at Wembley.
"Of those, Arouna Kone had a clause in his contract and went to Everton and Mauro Boselli went to a club in Mexico.
"The attitude of the nine who were left to get the football club back to where everybody craves it to be has been unbelievable but from those two transfer fees we have tried to wheel and deal and bring in good players.
"That there is still £1million that has not been spent shows how hard we have worked to bring in Grant Holt at £1.5million, James Perch for £500,000, Scott Carson, James McClean at a bargain fee.
"We think we have got quality and players with a real purpose."
After opening their league campaign with an impressive win at Barnsley, the FA Cup winners' strange season continues at Wembley, scene of their stunning triumph over Manchester City in May.
Source: PA
