Escape Relegation and Escape to Barbados

Dave Whelan apparently enjoys Barbados. I mean, why not? It's Barbados. The Wigan Athletic FC owner recently curtailed some recent leisure time there just to come back to see his team's upset win over Liverpool, which also doubled as their only win ever against the Scousers. Even with that victory, the 15th place team is teetering on the verge of relegation from the Premier League. But like many successful people, Whelan understands the power of incentives. So he's promising vacations in his favorite spot on Earth if they finish above the drop zone.

Whelan had been watching his club drop into trouble during his lengthy spell at his Barbados base but the way Roberto Martinez's men beat the Kop raised his spirits.

And Whelan is now promising an end-of-season break to the Latics stars if they finish the job and secure their top-flight status for another season.

Whelan has splashed out on the surprise holiday gift before, taking the Wigan staff to Barbados when they beat the drop in their first season in the Premier League.

You have to dangle the carrot a little higher than that. Sooner or later, this motivational ploy is going to lose its efficacy. Then Whelan will have to bump it up to a full-on Caribbean cruise. Only for them though. He clearly doesn't want to have to leave Barbados.

(H/T to Dirty Tackle)

This post originally appeared on the Sporting Blog. For more, see The Sporting Blog Archives.