Former Liverpool defender Steven Caulker has hit out at the 'scandalous' and 'unacceptable' position he and the rest of his Wigan Athletic team-mates have been put in.
The Sky Bet Championship’s bottom club have not paid players or staff on time on four occasions so far this season. That has already resulted in a three-point deduction by the EFL for breaching an agreement the Latics had with the governing body in January, when they accepted a suspended penalty.
Wigan have continued to play and train despite the disruptive off-pitch news throughout the season. However, their players, along with manager Shaun Maloney, have now taken the decision to stay away from the club's training ground until the situation is rectified.
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And Caulker, who enjoyed a short spell at Anfield during the 2015/16 season, has hit out at the "absolutely scandalous lies" he says the Latics' squad have been told by the club's owners.
"The lies we as players have been told by Wigan Athletic are absolutely scandalous," he wrote on LinkedIn. "There may be a reason for late payment once or twice, but for the boys to have experienced this five times this season is completely unacceptable.
"We are told as players everyday that the money is on its way and will 'hopefully' reach our account by the afternoon. 14 days later, the money still hasn't arrived.
"Furthermore, what is more concerning is that we are due to be paid again on April 7 and the club are unable to confirm whether they will have enough funds for this.
"Since I arrived at this club I have seen the players and backroom staff work tirelessly to try keep this club in the Championship. It's really painful to now see that task become harder and harder each passing day. As the famous saying goes: 'Being silent while witnessing an injustice makes you guilty of the oppression as well'.
"Well, my position is clear, I stand with the honest hardworking staff and players, whose mental health is now being affected by this."
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