Whelan confirms Wigan will interview Mackay for manager’s job

Wigan chairman Dave Whelan has confirmed Malky Mackay is in the running to be the club’s new manager.

Mackay, who has been out of the game since being axed by Cardiff in December 2013, will hold talks with the Latics this week about replacing Uwe Rosler.

It would be a controversial appointment by the Championship club, given his reputation took a major hit earlier this year after the Welsh club sent a dossier to the FA accusing him of exchanging ‘racist, sexist and homophobic’ texts and email messages with then sporting director Iain Moody.

Mackay was forced to pull out of the running to be Crystal Palace manager in August as a result of the revelations and he subsequently issued an apology, admiting the exchanges with Moody were “disrespectful of other cultures”.

But Whelan has revealed he could now hand the Scot a route back into the game.

"I can confirm Malky Mackay has applied and we will speak to him," he told the Daily Telegraph. "I believe he deserves a fair hearing.

"We've had over 20 applications and started interviews on Tuesday. Hopefully we can make an appointment before the game this weekend against Middlesbrough.

"It's an important job and I don't like to mess around when I think I've got the right person."