Whelan - Europe is the aim

Wigan owner Dave Whelan has set his sights firmly on European qualification via the league this season. The Latics are currently in seventh place in the table and will qualify for the first-ever Europa League if they can maintain that position.Unlike some clubs for whom Europe seems a distraction, Whelan definitely sees it as the next step on the ladder of success.And he is prepared to put his money where his mouth is - if the Latics do qualify, it will earn manager Steve Bruce a massive £500,000 bonus, which comes on top of the £2million windfall he collected last season for guiding Wigan to safety.LaughedWhelan told The People: "I remember telling the press when I took over that I wanted Wigan Athletic to be in the Premier League, they laughed and chuckled."Somebody then asked me what I wanted after that and I said 'Europe' - there were more laughs."But Bolton and Blackburn have done it, so why can't we? It's definitely our aim for the rest of the season."

Source: SKY_Sports