Jewell angry with Premier League

Jewell (right) maintained the belief his Wigan side could stay up

Wigan boss Paul Jewell reaffirmed his anger at the Premier League's timing of the hearing into West Ham's signing of Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano.

West Ham escaped a points deduction but were fined £5.5m on 27 April - a day before they played Wigan.

Wigan clinched top-flight safety by winning at Sheffield United, while West Ham beat Manchester United to survive.

"The ideal scenario for the Premier League might have been for Manchester United to beat West Ham," said Jewell.

Interview: Wigan boss Paul Jewell

People's persona of Wigan is that it's probably the least attractive club in the Premiership so we deserve great credit for being there for a third successive season Wigan manager Paul Jewell

Jewell added: "Some people think West Ham have got off the hook a little bit.

"But I don't want to go down that route. The reason we had to go into the final game to stay up was that we weren't good enough over the 37 games before."

Sheffield United were relegated through goal difference after their 2-1 defeat by Wigan at Bramall Lane.

Jewell stated: "I have been in football for a long time and I know when people have some doubts in their mind you have got to play on them.

606: DEBATE I love the way West Ham play, but they got off lightly RD

"Sheffield United didn't have to win to stay up but we had nothing else in our minds but to win the game.

"I said to the players, they will be edgy because it's all in their hands.

"I feel like I've just run a marathon. It's a great achievement for a club of our size and we have had to overcome a lot of obstacles.

"People's persona of Wigan is that it's probably the least attractive club in the Premiership so we deserve great credit for being there for a third successive season."