BOVRIL BRIGADE COME IN FOR STICK

Wigan's chairman Dave Whelan has stepped up his criticism of Greater Manchester Police by revealing the full details of the £42,976.44 which the Championship side were charged for last month's home game against Leeds.

"I cannot believe the cost of policing this match and feel what we are being asked to pay is just ridiculous," said Whelan, who has been in dispute with his local police all season and approached the sports minister Richard Caborn for support.

"It appears we are, once again, being charged more than our neighbouring clubs and I have decided to make the figures from the Leeds game public to demonstrate why they have angered us."

The itemised invoice from GMP for six hours' work is for one chief inspector at £61.08 per hour, five inspectors and 16 sergeants at £55.98 per hour, 116 constables at £46.23 per hour, four mounted constables at £75.05 per hour and four dog handlers at £65.81 per hour.

Whelan contrasts that to the £25,000 Bolton were charged by GMP for policing their home game against Manchester United last September, even though it attracted 27,766 compared to 17,177 at the Wigan-Leeds fixture.

And there we were thinking clubs and fans paid taxes for this sort of “service” from the police.