WIGAN HAVE WEBSTER IN RESERVE

ANDY WEBSTER made his Wigan debut yesterday - as a trialist for their reserves.

The Latics were given clearance to play the Scotland defender in the 1-1 draw with Liverpool.

Webster played the entire 90 minutes, his first game of the season, as former Hearts target Neil Mellor found the net for the Reds.

Former Hearts stopper Webster walked out of Tynecastle on July 1 after handing in his notice to quit under FIFA Regulation 17.

Wigan hope to have clearance from FIFA before the transfer deadline at the end of the month to sign Webster on a permanent deal but boss Paul Jewell last night blasted the bungling English FA for holding up the move.

Jewell wanted to hand the player his debut in the Premiership opener against Newcastle on Saturday - a game his side lost 2-1.

But FA chiefs failed to process the transfer in time and a furious Jewell said: "Our paperwork on the transfer was lodged on Thursday, August 10, but when we rang them last Friday, it was still sitting on the FA's desk somewhere.

"The FA have shown a bit of incompetence there.

"Hopefully, they'll have sent it to FIFA yesterday morning but it shouldhave been done on August 10.

"It's very disappointing, a most unsatisfactory situation, and we're eight days behind schedule as a result.

"Presumably, it wouldn't have happened if we were a big club and I think it needs highlighting."

Taken from the Daily Record