The decision of Owen Coyle to leave Burnley for Bolton has caused much consternation in light of the 43 year old manager’s recent revelation that he turned down the chance to become boss of his boyhood idols Glasgow Celtic last summer.

To many -considering Celtic play host to 60,000+ every other week- it is seen as a sad indictment of Scottish football, and with last week’s capture of Gary Caldwell, Wigan manager Roberto Martinez has only added fuel to the fire.

Caldwell, the Player of the Year and Scottish Football Writer’s Player of the Year for 2008, had five months left on his Parkhead contract, and the move, alleged to be in the region of £750,000, sees the centre half leave a title challenge for, arguably, a fight against the drop…

The deal is certainly a reflection of the game’s current financial plight north of the border, as the 27 year old, on turning down a recent contract offer from the Glasgow club, very publicly announced they were “kidding themselves” to think he would accept such terms.

Despite a recent medical at Middlesboro ahead of a proposed link-up with ex-Hoops boss Gordon Strachan, Caldwell had a last-minute change of heart, citing the lure of the Premiership as too good to turn down. With Wigan just four points clear of the drop zone, a lot will depend on his performances as to whether he and his new club stay there.

His arrival at the DW Stadium, on a four and a half year contract thought to be in the region of £20,000 per week, follows on the back of Serbian goalkeeper Vladimir Stojkovic and Ivory Coast centre half Steven Gohouri already this January transfer window.

Martinez is delighted to have captured a player he describes as “a winner….a commanding defender who leads by example.” Coming in at £4.0 in FPL, the Scot will certainly be given ample opportunity to display his talents in the second half of this campaign.

Saturday’s match with Wolves gave an indication of Martinez’s future changes in line-up, as Emerson Boyce dropped out of central defence, allowing the debutant to partner Titus Bramble in the win at Molineux. Caldwell’s experience at international and Champions League level had an immediate impact, having conceded 43 goals and chalked up a mere 3 clean sheets in their previous 19 Premiership games this season, Wigan claimed three vital points with a 2-0 victory over Mick McCarthy’s men. It was their first league clean sheet away from home since the opening game of the season at Villa.

The acquisition of Caldwell looks likely to have a positive effect on Paul Scharner’s fantasy potential. As Martinez begins to mould the Wigan back line to his own liking, they only strengthen the Austrian’s claim for the more advanced midfield role he has grown accustomed to this season. Should Caldwell stiffen the Wigan defence as expected, Scharner’s returns will of course be boosted by the arrival of clean sheets. Those tempted by Scharner will have to wait on news following his knee injury sustained on Saturday; should he be cleared for gameweek 23, he looks a good option given Wigan’s forthcoming run of fixtures.

Wigan have opponents that may well attract possible investors: (bla, EVE, sun, STK, BOL) with the last two games representing a double fixture in gamweek 26. Should Caldwell start gaining FPL bonus to accompany the odd clean sheet, he may yet emerge as a worthy budget defensive option in his own right.