Paul Jewell became Wigan Athletic's third manager in two months when he accepted the offer to return to management at the JJB Stadium with the club he played for in the mid-eighties.

He succeeded Steve Bruce as manager after the former Manchester United defender ended his short tenure with the club in favour of Crystal Palace.

Wigan is Jewell's third club as a manager, having previously been at the helm of Yorkshire clubs Bradford City and Sheffield Wednesday and the young Liverpudlian is determined to achieve promotion to Division One and match the ambition of the club's fanatical chairman Dave Whelan.

Liverpool born Paul began his career at Anfield before joining Wigan Athletic where he made 137 League appearances, scoring 35 goals. He was part of the Wigan team that reached the quarter-finals of the FA Cup in 1985/86 and became one of the fans' favourites during his three years at Springfield Park.

He was signed for Bradford by Terry Dolan in 1988 for £80,000 and fully justified his fee as he earned the tag of the 'complete professional' scoring 56 times during his 269 League appearances for the Bantams.

Paul took charge of the Reserves in the 1996/97 season and was later appointed joint First Team Coach before replacing Chris Kamara as Bradford manager at the end of 1997.

He celebrated his first full year in charge when he received the Nationwide Football League Division 1 Manager of the Month Award for December 1998 with the season culminating in taking Bradford City's promotion into England's top division for the first time in their history.

Jewell performed heroics in steering the Bantams to top flight survival with a final day triumph over Liverpool. But just weeks after that amazing achievement, he handed in a resignation request, citing his desire for a new challenge as the reason behind his decision to quit Valley Parade.

Reviving the fortunes of First Division Sheffield Wednesday was the challenge Jewell had in mind as he looked to steer them back into the Premiership.

However, limited funds and an extensive injury list hampered The Owls' campaign from the beginning and they were soon at the foot of the table and facing another relegation battle.

Having been unable to effect a significant turnaround at Hillsborough by February 2001, Jewell was dismissed from his post and replaced by his assistant Peter Shreeves.

He spent four months out of the game, occasionally appearing as a summarizer on televised matches, before being given the opportunity to return to management with Wigan Athletic, his primary aim being to lift the club into the First Division.

In the 2002/03 season Jewell's side clicked and he won the Division 2 award after Wigan secured 100 points and lost just four games on their way to the championship.

The Latics clinched the title after a 0-0 draw at Huddersfield.

And afterwards Jewell said: "I said to the players lets enjoy it because we have to make the most of it. "The players have deserved all the credit and everyone else deserves the credit because it has been a team effort, right through from the chairman to the fans.

"There's no secret to our success apart from hard work, good players and a little bit of fortune."

And he celebrated success by signing a new 3 year deal with the club.