Report: Portsmouth rivals Wigan to be slapped with extended transfer embargo as problems mount for League One's crisis club

Already set to start their 2023-24 third-tier campaign on minus-eight points, the Latics are now facing a transfer embargo for up to three transfer windows.

That’s according to Wigan Today’s Paul Kendrick, who is reporting the latest sanction is the result of ‘HMRC-related matters’ and changes to Football League regulations that come into effect immediately.

These changes were approved at today’s (Thursday) EFL annual general meetings that was attended by all clubs.

It’s been claimed Wigan fall foul of the ‘30-Day Rule’, which states: ‘The non-payment of HMRC debt has been added as a trigger of Regulation 52.6, so Clubs who accumulate 30 days of late payments in a 12-month period will be unable to sign a player for a fee or any consideration for three full transfer windows.’

If the punishment is imposed – it remains unclear if the full penalty will apply – it means the Latics won’t be able to sign anyone until January 2025.

Following the release of their retained list on May 23, Wigan have 19 players currently contracted to the club for next season – including former Pompey duo Jack Whatmough and Tom Naylor.

Six players are due to leave the club upon the expiry of their contracts at the end of the month – Joe Bennett, Steven Caulker, Jordan Cousins, captain Tendayi Darikwa, Gwion Edwards and Ryan Nyambe.

At the time it was said that Jamie Jones and Max Power were in discussions regarding new deals. But it’s not clear if the club will be in the position to continue those negotiations.

Recently-relegated Wigan will begin next season on minus-eight points after late payments of wages and failing to meet an English Football League funding deadline.