Wigan Athletic announced the sudden death of goalkeeping coach Kevin Miller on Thursday. The 57-year-old, who joined the club this summer to work with manager Gary Caldwell, passed away leaving everyone at the League One side devastated.
"His sudden passing has left everyone at the club deeply saddened and devastated," Wigan Athletic said in a statement. The club also cancelled a scheduled pre-match press conference ahead of their upcoming home fixture against Wycombe Wanderers, details of which can be found on the fixtures page.
Miller had a long career in football, first as a player and later as a coach. He made over 700 appearances across a 20-year playing career that included spells in the Premier League with clubs like Crystal Palace and Watford, as well as stints at Birmingham, Barnsley, and Derby County. He moved into coaching after retiring, spending three and a half years as goalkeeping coach at Exeter City before his move to Wigan this summer.
Wigan Athletic paid warm tribute to Miller. "Although Kevin’s time with Latics was far too short, he quickly became a much-loved and respected member of our first-team staff," the club said. The statement asked for total privacy for Miller's wife Fiona, daughter Esme, and all his family and friends.
His former club Exeter City described him as an incredibly popular figure during his time at St James Park.
The news comes at a difficult time on the pitch for Wigan. The club's current standings show they sit 23rd in League One with just four points from their opening six matches, having conceded 12 goals while scoring only 5. Their recent form reads one win, one draw and three defeats from the last five games, a run of results that has left them 6 points from safety at this early stage.
Their next match is at home to 20th-placed Wycombe on Saturday. The club, which famously won the FA Cup in 2013 and spent eight seasons in the Premier League, will now prepare for that game while mourning the loss of a key staff member. Further team information is available on the squad page.
Read the full report at The Independent
