Amid all the fuss and performance that is the 'Will he? Won't he..?' saga of Billy Sharp, Freddy Eastwood and Co, that little link between Wigan and City coach Martin Hunter almost got over-looked.
It popped up in the People on Sunday and with the Canaries issuing the traditional 'We don't comment on speculation…' denial, it was left to the Manchester Evening News to push the story on.
To give the whole tale a few more legs, as Ferret's pals in the Press would tell you.
Cue some lengthy quotes last night from new Latics' boss Chris Hutchings – complete with the fact that the two worked together before at Bradford City.
There's your link; that's what you look for; some reason to put the two together. Bradford City; Valley Parade.
The fact that the much-travelled Colin Lee was ruled out of the running in the same article was of little interest – the fact that Hutchings and Hunter had that time together at Bradford was of far more relevance. It's why the story 'works', in Ferret's humble opinion, even if it eventually strays wide of the mark.
“I've spoken to someone about the job and am waiting for them to get back with an answer,” Hutchings told the Manchester Evening News this week.
“Hopefully, I will have somebody pretty soon so we can get things sorted out. It's an appointment I must get right.”
Having just moved the family down from Yorkshire following last summer's appointment at Colney, whether Hunter would be keen to haul them back up north again is another matter.
And while Hutchings was clearly not naming names in his piece with the Manchester Evening News, City's former England Youth coach would appear to tick most of the boxes. Hutchings also has the prospect of coaching at Premiership level up his sleeve.
Back at Colney, Gunny's arrival as a 'club liason' officer was always designed to free up more of Granty's time on the coaching front; plus he's got Duffy by his side coaching-wise, too.
It is an interesting one; something to keep your eye on as Hutchings looks for his man to give him a 'Yes!' or a 'No!' in the coming days.
Hunter, family's feet under the table in Norfolk, could still say 'No!'.
“I could be away watching a player in Europe but I need to know everything is being looked after properly back here in Wigan, therefore it needs to be someone who knows the job, who is good on the training pitch, and has been involved in the game at all levels,” said Hutchings.
“I want the kind of working relationship I had with Paul Jewell.
“We had a difference of opinion over some things, but we were never too far apart with our thinking. It was a successful partnership, and I have to make sure whoever comes in can be a success and can carry on with what we do so well here at Wigan.”
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