Wigan Athletic FC

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• Founded:1932
• Manager:Roberto Martinez

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McCulloch request rejected

19 Jan 2007 - 14:50:34

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Wigan Athletic have rejected a transfer request from Lee McCulloch just days after Latics boss Paul Jewell described a transfer bid from Rangers for the forward as "insulting" and "derisory".

Rangers tabled a £750,000 offer for McCulloch earlier in the week, but the offer was immediately rejected by an angry Jewell who is in no rush to sell the Scotland international.

Now the 28-year-old forward has asked to leave the JJB Stadium as he is keen to return north of the border.

McCulloch arrived at Wigan from Motherwell for £700,000 in 2001 and has gone on to score 45 goals in over 200 appearances for the Lancashire club.

New Rangers boss Walter Smith is keen to land the experienced forward as part of his rebuilding process at Ibrox, but his initial bid was rebuffed by Jewell.

The Latics boss said: "The offer they made can only be described as derisory - in fact, it's insulting.

"We paid £700,000 for him when we were in the old Third Division. Since then he's become a Premiership player and a full international.

"If Rangers - or any other club - think we'd sell an established player and international for such a paltry sum then they're sorely mistaken."