Wigan Athletic release ex-Carlisle United man Charlie Wyke

The ex-Blues frontman has been released by the Latics after the League One season.

Striker Wyke is one of five out-of-contract players let go by Wigan, a list that includes another former United player in Ben Amos.

It ends a three-year spell at the DW Stadium for 31-year-old Wyke, who ended last season on loan with Rotherham United in the Championship.

He scored 15 goals in 57 appearances for Wigan - a spell which saw Wyke recover from a cardiac arrest in 2021 which nearly cost him his life.

He made a successful return to first-team football and will now look to pursue his career elsewhere.

"Charlie had a unique journey with the Club but leaves having won the 2021/22 League One title and scoring several big goals Thank you for your contributions as a Tic!" said Wigan in a statement on social media.

Wyke had been the subject of speculation about a possible return to Carlisle last January, before he instead joined Rotherham - who at the same time sold fellow frontman Georgie Kelly to the Blues on transfer deadline day.

Wyke had an impressive goalscoring spell for Carlisle (Image: Barbara Abbott)

The Teessider was a goalscoring star at Brunton Park in his two-year spell from 2015 to 2017.

Former Middlesbrough man Wyke hit 39 goals in 90 appearances before joining Bradford City in a £250,000 deal.

After a season and a half at Valley Parade, he joined Sunderland and spent nearly three years at the Stadium of Light before his move to Wigan.

Latics boss Shaun Maloney has also released goalkeeper Amos - who was on loan at Carlisle from Manchester United in the 2013/14 season - as well as striker Josh Magennis, forward Stephen Humphrys and left-back Tom Pearce.

Wigan finished 12th in the third tier in the 2023/24 campaign, the Latics having started the season with an eight-point deduction.