Wigan Athletic Football Club News

• Nickname:Latics
• Founded:1932
• Manager:Roberto Martinez

• Ground:JJB Stadium
• Capacity:25,000

Bruce ready for window fight

11 Dec 2008 - 11:30:37

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Wigan Athletic boss Steve Bruce has pledged to fight hard to keep his star players at the JJB Stadium when the transfer window reopens.

Latics striker Emile Heskey and Ecuador midfielder Antonio Valencia both continue to be linked with moves to other Premier League clubs in January.

But a bullish Bruce has warned his counterparts that will not part with any of his key players without putting up a fight.

"We are building the nucleus of a very good team here and the last thing I want to do is dismantle it," he told the Evening Post.

"The big clubs are circling around us and they are at our games every week because our young players are terrific prospects.

"My biggest job of the lot is keeping hold of them and I'll be fighting very hard to do that next month.

"I'm convinced we are on the verge of building a very good team and it is complimentary and flattering other teams are interested in my players.

"But it is also very frustrating because I don't want to lose any of them - I want to keep my best players."

Meanwhile, Bruce has suggested he may not look to bolster his squad in the New Year.

He added: "People have made a lot of me doing business in January, but you have to be careful in the transfer window.

"It is not certain I will do anything, it depends on many things."