Wigan Athletic appear to have won the race to sign Cardiff winger Anthony Pilkington, despite Town having made him a better financial offer, and he is set to be unveiled by the Latics later today.

TWTD understands Pilkington, 30, took the decision to join the Latics for purely personal reasons because his family home is in the North West and he was keen to relocate there.

Town boss Paul Lambert had targeted the Republic of Ireland international front man after working with him at Norwich, where he signed him from Huddersfield in a £2 million deal almost eight years ago.

Pilkington, who had also been linked with Blackburn, was out of favour at Cardiff, having not played for them since April last year and helping them to win promotion to the Premier League.

Lambert will now turn his attention elsewhere, with trialist Simon Dawkins still a possible new recruit after impressing for the U23s in Monday’s 4-2 win over Bristol City that keeps Town on top of the Professional Development League Two South table.

Former Tottenham, Derby and San Jose Earthquakes midfielder Dawkins, a 31-year-old Jamaican international, has been training with the first team for the last few weeks and is available on a free transfer. He worked briefly with Lambert, making four substitute appearances, during a loan spell at Aston Villa early in 2013.

Photo: Action Images

boltzak added 15:27 - Jan 9 Anybody hear anything about Lewis baker from Chelsea?
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Jonnosdreadlocks added 15:30 - Jan 9 not bothered, we have plenty of midfielders anyway, although he's better than most we have at present! Improving the defence needs to be an area of priority in my book.
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badadski added 15:37 - Jan 9 ummm, he wouldn't have been finacially better off with us surely. Hes is a loan so its his parent club that would have been offered more by us for him to come to us not Wigan but he will end up with his full contactual wages regardless so would have made no sense to come to us if a closer to home club has come in and offered him playin time.
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BlueandTruesince82 added 16:00 - Jan 9 Ummmm no.... because moving town wod have been perm with us taking on the remainder of his contract
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juniorblue added 16:01 - Jan 9 Although disappointing you can understand him wanting to be closer to family. I wish some on here would read the post fully before laying blame at the club's door. We must keep the faith with PL and trust him to find the players who can help us out of the current situation.
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Blue_Moses added 16:22 - Jan 9 Pains me to say it but regardless of his family we are now unable to compete with the likes of Wigan.
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cat added 16:36 - Jan 9 We made the better offer and he chose the ‘glam' of living up north. Did not want any ex scammers anyhow! apart from lambert of course! Ready for the next link, move on
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cat added 16:39 - Jan 9 Martin567, blimney mate! never seen you get a minus before, guess your humour got missed, upper from the cat as per though 👌
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martin587 added 16:51 - Jan 9 Cat, Thanks mate,some people don't see the funny side,it was said with tongue in cheek.😂😂👍
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TimmyH added 17:06 - Jan 9 I wonder if Pilkington would have given us the 'nearer to family' thing if we were vying for at least the play-offs?...I very much doubt it and with the better offer than Wigan to boot.
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blueboy1981 added 17:07 - Jan 9 ..... .he obviously didn't want to be here - so best not. Only players who genuinely want to wear the ITFC shirt required. The others such as Pilkington can go to hell on a handcart, as far as I'm concerned.
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blueboy1981 added 17:09 - Jan 9 ...... is it compulsory for Wigan to become interested in a player immediately after we do ? - seemingly it happens all to often.
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blueboy1981 added 17:15 - Jan 9 Fact is, the North of the Country is a better attraction now than the South, for more than just Footballers. The South isn't what it once was.
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barrystedmunds added 17:16 - Jan 9 At least we got Dawkins!
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jas0999 added 17:31 - Jan 9 Big disappointment. Although I wish the new signings well and hope they can perform better for us than they have recently - the reality is none of them shout ‘saviour'. Pilkington was in that bracket. Quality. Good player. Shame.
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Ipswichbusiness added 18:31 - Jan 9 I suspect that “family” is just an excuse in the same way that politicians resign to spend more time with their family! He knows that we are down, but Wigan still have a chance.
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Pecker added 19:17 - Jan 9 Disappointing, but if he doesn't want to be here, then sod him.
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Northstandveteran added 19:31 - Jan 9 It's a thumbs up from tropical Essex Martin587 Those regular users of this site will know that you travel up and down the country to watch your team and however your comment was meant, you more than any have the right to express your opinion. P.s. Ipswich is up north 😂
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martin587 added 19:46 - Jan 9 Northstandveteran, Many thanks for your comment.I didn't realise a tongue in cheek remark would result in so many down votes. I will be watching their future posts with keen interest.🤣🤣
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Warkys_Tash added 21:38 - Jan 9 Martin 587, I just gave you a down vote for your tongue-in-cheek-comment, because it was at an even number and that F'ks with my OCD - hopefully no hard feelings :-D Cat, you got one mate because I don't care if we sign 5 more ex-Norwich players as long as we stay up.. and that includes (hopefully) Ben Marshall who is quality.. We are not down just yet, lots of rubbish all around us.. big Collin Quaner is going to break his duck on Saturday..assisted by Will Keane.. COYB!!

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bobble added 02:46 - Jan 10 i heard he was no good anyway, couldnt even make the cardiff team...he is moving from one rugby town to another type of rugby town..good luck to him...roy krishna is scoring for fun in wellington, town should have got him several years ago...
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cat added 09:07 - Jan 10 Warkys - like you I'm not bothered who we sign, not coming from Suffolk or Norfolk that rivalry just ain't so intense. I was at the second leg of the milk cup in 85 however and still ain't got over that (lol)
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Razor added 10:28 - Jan 10 I would have loved him here of course but understand fully the family reasons behind his decision----some other people apparantly do not.
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