Fulham boss Parker: I have sympathy for Wigan Athletic

Fulham head coach Scott Parker expressed his sympathy for Wigan manager Paul Cook as his side saw their relegation confirmed as a result of the two side’s stalemate at the DW Stadium.
The Latics had a 12-point deduction imposed upon them after Wednesday’s game as a result of entering administration, meaning they slipped into the relegation zone and dropped into League One alongside Hull City and Charlton Athletic.

Parker was full of praise for his opposite number after an enthralling match ultimately left neither side with their desired outcome. 

“I have sympathy for Paul and for Wigan with the job he’s done,” said Parker in the aftermath of their unfortunate relegation.

“He’s done a fantastic job. To think you have a 12-point deduction and you need to win the game tonight to try and stay in the division, I have nothing but sympathy for them.

“We knew the task ahead of us – there was a team here fighting for their lives, a team that had to win the game and were going to come out of the blocks really firing. I think the same could be said about us. That’s how the game panned out certainly, it was an end-to-end game in the end and both teams knew we both needed to win the game.

“It becomes a bit of a basketball match at the end – very entertaining – but I have sympathy for Paul and Wigan certainly.”

PICTURES BY SEAN GOSLING