Tuesday 10 December 2013 10:40, UK
Uwe Rosler has thanked Brentford for giving him a shot at managing in England after leaving them to become the new Wigan manager.
The 45-year-old finally got his chance to manage in the Sky Bet Championship this season after agreeing to move to the DW Stadium over the weekend. He came exceptionally close to elevating the Bees into the second tier of English football last season, yet the width of a crossbar denied them in an unforgettable end-of-season clash with Doncaster before they suffered Wembley heartache at the hands of Yeovil in the League One play-off final. This year's goal had been to go one step further with Brentford but the chance to move closer to his family in the north west and take charge of the FA Cup holders was one Rosler could not pass up. "It was a difficult situation," he noted. "The owner, Matthew Benham, gave me the chance in English football. "With the sporting director Mark Warburton we were very, very close. We signed all the players and we improved and improved. But that's done, that chapter is closed. "I decided to go to Wigan Athletic, I'm excited about that step and I wish Brentford all the best." The move materlised quickly, with owner Dave Whelan claiming it took Rosler less than five minutes to convince him he was the ideal candidate for the vacant position. News first emerged of Wigan's interest on Thursday night, which coincided with a council meeting where Brentford were granted planning permission for a new 20,000-seater stadium. They will move in to their new home under a new manager, though, following Rosler's exit ahead of Saturday's FA Cup defeat to Carlisle. He said: "On Thursday night I had dinner with the owner and the sporting director and I went to Carlisle to say to the players 'goodbye'. "I have to move on and Brentford football club will move on."
