Wigan match hero Scott Parker has backed calls to keep Gianfranco Zola at the club.
Zola's position has appeared increasingly untenable of late due to a series of negative comments from joint owner David Sullivan, who has been publically critical of the manager and some of his team's performances - unlike his partner David Gold, who conversely has backed his man.However Parker's celebration following the winning goal on Saturday - in which he and a number of team mates mobbed Zola in celebration - appeared to indicate where the players loyalty lay , someting that was confirmed by Parker after the game.
"It was clear to see from me personally that the manager has helped me throughout the season," he told whufc.com. ""I don't think I would have had the season like I have had personally without him behind me. He has given me massive belief and confidence and from my reaction you can see that I respect him.
"A lot of people say he is a nice man but he is not just a nice man, he is an extremely talented and good manager. People will say I would support him but, from the bottom of my heart, he is a good man and he is a very good manager, along with the staff he has got here. Hopefully we can go and push on next year.
"It has been a horrible season but we have put up with a lot of mess. Only four months ago we were reading this and that. I am not making excuses - at times we haven't been good enough - but hopefully we have erased some of the bad things and we can look forward to kicking on next year. Sticking together, learning from this and moving forward."
Referring to the goal that won the game, the 29-year-old - who many supporters feel should captain the club next season - said: "I can safely say it was probably the best goal I have ever scored. Whether it had been a tap-in or like the goal it was, it was the most meaningful goal of my career and it means the most to me.
"It came to me from a great header from Franco and it was one of those where if you buy a ticket you have got a chance. It has left my foot and gone straight in. The relief and every single emotion which I have gone through this season literally poured out once that went in."
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