Wigan Athletic chairman Dave Whelan is convinced one of the Premier League's foreign owners will throw a wobbler and walk out.

This Saturday, Wigan play Lancashire neighbours Blackburn in what will be ­Latics boss Roberto Martinez's 100th game in charge, with Whelan still valiantly backing his favourite soccer son to survive the dreaded drop. He wants Rovers to stay up too, and he has forthright - and sometimes unexpected - views on the ownership and future of clubs.

He told the Sunday Mirror: "I may be the last of the old, community-based big backers of a local club. It's harder nowadays for one man to generate £100million.

"It's more difficult to make that kind of money, and it's a big responsibility to look after a club. But I do have big ­reservations about foreign ownership. Many do not ­understand English football.

"At Manchester City and the like, it may be good for the fans, but how long will it last?

"Will someone spit their dummy out?

"It's bound to happen somewhere, sooner or later."