WIGAN boss Leam Richardson has “fond memories” of his time at Wanderers ahead of this weekend’s League One clash.

Richardson joined the Whites in 2000 and was part of the squad that won the Championship play-offs under Sam Allardyce the following season.

The Wigan chief admits his time at the UniBol gives him an extra incentive ahead of Saturday’s game.

“I’ve got really fond memories of my time there,” he told Wigan Today. “I was still in the infancy of my career, but I was lucky enough to work with some absolutely fantastic people, staff and players.

“We had a really strong dressing room there under Sam Allardyce and Phil Brown.

"And I made some really good friends with the Scandinavian lads as well as Kevin Nolan, Michael Ricketts, Nicky Hunt.

“I was fortunate enough to play however small a role in the success we had there in getting promoted to the Premier League.

“It was a great time in my career.”

Richardson also had a spell as assistant to Paul Cook at Chesterfield between 2013 and 2015.

He recalled working with Wanderers boss Ian Evatt, who was part of the playing squad at the time.

“I only worked with Ian as a player, so I can only comment on him as a player, not as a manager,” added the Wigan chief.

“He was obviously a leader on the pitch with certain qualities, even at the latter end of his career.

“He was fantastic for us, a real leader – one of several leaders in the squad – we had a very good team and we were very successful.”

Richardson – who also had spells with Blackpool and Accrington – took charge at the DW Stadium back in April following a stint as caretaker boss.

The Latics have made a strong start to the campaign and sit third in the league table, having won seven of their opening 10 fixtures.

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