Dave Whelan Quotations

Let's see someone in charge with feeling for the game and let's make sure England are coached by an Englishman.

Personally I would have got rid of him four or five weeks ago (after England lost to Northern Ireland in a World Cup qualifier). But they have made the decision, so we have to stand by that.

It goes down in history as something special. A club like Wigan that's only in the Football League 25 years and were in the old fourth division qualifies for the Premiership. It says to every team in the land it is possible, it can be done.

Ringing up was a wonderful gesture. He made time to speak to me once he made it clear he was going to Tyneside. Our move was not a publicity stunt. I was even prepared to put a clause in that would allow him to move at Christmas.

Paul and myself are not talking about Europe just yet. The ambition was to stay in the Premier League and we look like we're going to fulfill that ambition. We never thought we would get to the final of the League Cup. It's fairytale stuff.

Paul Jewell can stay as long as he wishes with me. I have told him 'name the length of your contract'.

People keep asking me 'can we really do it?' Why not? We won't be easy pickings for United, that's for sure. We are no one's pushover and everyone in the land who does not have an affinity for United will be rooting for us and urging us to victory.

Sven-Goran Eriksson would have been sacked by now if it was up to me.

I would like 20 players registered with a salary cap, a figure that each team agrees on,

Michael rang to say thanks for trying to sign him,

We were very close to signing Michael Owen,

If any Englishman said he has never called a Chinaman a chink he is lying. There is nothing bad about doing that. It is like calling the British Brits, or the Irish Paddies.

I know it is easy to criticise and I accept it is a difficult job managing England but the man in charge must be passionate and realise he owes it to the nation to win the World Cup.

Roberto Martinez's belief is unbelievable

We would have released him at Christmas or at the end of the season if someone had come in for him.

Twenty eight years ago we were playing non-league football and now we are in a cup final.

The whole system and pattern of play under Sven is flawed. We seem to have lost the plot,

I'm not against England having a foreign manager. But I do want somebody with some passion for the English team and for English pride.

But I needed the right club to come back to. People could have looked at me and thought Bradford was a fluke. The next job needed to be a success.

The LMA, and all our managers, will be doing our best to support the England team and the FA in pursuit of success in the World Cup.