Wigan Athletic Football Club

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

• Ground:JJB Stadium
• Capacity:25000

Scharner keen on Latics stay

11 Apr 2008 - 09:53:06

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Wigan Athletic defender Paul Scharner is keen to remain at the JJB Stadium and has held preliminary talks over extending his contact with the Latics.

The Austrian still has more than one year left on his existing deal, but was the subject of approaches from Fulham during the January transfer window.

But the 28-year-old is happy at Wigan and has held talks with manager Steve Bruce over extending his two-and-a-half year stay with the Latics.

"Steve Bruce and myself have had a meeting and he told me he wants to talk in the summer with a view to extending my contract," he told the Wigan Evening Post.

"That's fine by me and I said let's finish the season first and concentrate on keeping the club in the Premier League."

Meanwhile, the outspoken defender is hoping to win his place back in the Austria squad for this summer's European Championship after a two-year absence following an argument with his national FA.

"I said things about the professionalism of the Austrian FA. Things have changed, maybe not with the FA, but I have changed!" he added.

"I'm preparing myself for a call-up, doing some extra training sessions, so I'll be ready if needed.

"If I don't get called up I will go on holiday, simple as that."