WHILE the focus is centred on whether Sunderland can earn Graeme Souness the sack or if second-place Tottenham can increase the gap over third-place Manchester United, 'little old Wigan' are within sight of achieving something just as remarkable.

A club in the old Fourth Division in 1997, elected to the Football League 27 years ago and who play second fiddle to the town's Rugby League side are in danger of lying one place short of runaway leaders Chelsea. An incredible thought.

When Wigan travel to Aston Villa today - a fixture that resembles an FA Cup David v Goliath tie of yesteryear on paper, rather than a Premiership encounter - the more established top-flight club will be treading with caution.

Despite being in the English elite league for the first time in their history, under manager Paul Jewell Wigan are a tougher proposition than even the most optimistic Lancastrian could have imagined.

In the opening nine games Jewell, whose side finished runners-up to Sunderland in the Championship last season, has overseen five victories, including successes over the Black Cats and Newcastle.

To have lost just two so far, recording just a point less than their more illustrious neighbours Manchester United, is perceived by many as making the most of the adrenaline push following promotion.

But, even though the biggest star on their books is Wolves misfit Henri Camara, that would be harsh on a side well drilled and well organised by Jewell.

It is also an assumption that completely underestimates the desire and determination possessed by the club's owner, Dave Whelan, to turn Wigan into a household name.

Whelan's business acumen is such that he once worked out a way of making money from a Manchester United versus Rangers, Champions League match in the 2003-04 campaign.

With so many Glaswegians on their way south, Whelan knew that police would not allow thousands of Rangers supporters to drink in the centre of Manchester during the build up to the game.

So he opened the bars at Wigan's JJB Stadium - some 25 minutes drive away from Old Trafford - and hosted them before seeing them bussed into Salford Quays for the battle of Britain clash.

And the fact he stands as the 115th richest man in Britain - having made his £290m from his JJB Sports retail brand - adds to the fact that Wigan are in a stronger position than most promoted clubs to strengthen.

Despite averaging a crowd of just 10,500 during their promotion year, Whelan remained as focused as ever to bring Premiership football to his beloved club and it should come as no surprise that he did.

In 2003, after it became clear Wigan were on their way to the Division Two title, Whelan had the nerve to claim it would be done by reaching 100 points. They did.

A similar bold prediction is unlikely to emerge from the extremely rich pensioner's mouth this time around, but don't rule out him starting to target a UEFA Cup spot.

Of course, on their first season in the top flight, avoiding relegation is Wigan's primary concern.

The likelihood is that Wigan's bubble will eventually burst and they will start to drop down the table. But Whelan has never failed before and he has no intention of starting now.

With Jewell on board, a manager who has the experience of a relegation behind him with Bradford, Wigan could well surprise a few more managers, not least those tipping them to go back down.