Wigan Athletic Football Club News

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

• Ground:JJB Stadium
• Capacity:25,000

Scharner drops future hint

24 Mar 2009 - 13:30:26

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Paul Scharner has hinted he could look to leave Wigan Athletic should they fail to secure European qualification for next season.

The versatile Austrian has been an integral part of the squad which has secured seventh place in the Premier League this season.

That is likely to be good enough to qualify for next term's Europa League and Scharner has suggested one of his major career aims will be satisfied should he return to European action.

The 29-year-old previously played in the UEFA Cup for former club Austria Vienna.

"If we get a European slot, maybe there is no hassle of changing anything," Scharner told the Wigan Evening Post.

"I'm now 29 and have to take the next step. I want to play in Europe again, as I played a couple of games for Austria Vienna when I was younger.

"I think it is a motivation for every player to play in Europe. We are seventh now in the table with 41 points and I'm very confident we can finish in our best ever position.

"I know it is a close league but I never got the feeling we would drop down towards the relegation positions. Now we've got to push on in the last-eight games and see what we can achieve."