Wigan Athletic are set to appeal the decision to deduct them 12 points for going into administration.

The EFL confirmed that the Championship club would receive the punishment this season providing they are not already in the bottom three.

Wigan currently sit 16th in the second tier, but a 12-point deduction would see them drop to the bottom of the table.

And with just five games left of the season, the decision would likely lead to them being relegated to League One.

But administrator Gerald Krasner is hopeful their case to avoid a points penalty will be heard.

Speaking to BBC Sport, he said: "The only grounds we have for this is 'force majeure'. My reading of it is, that applied to anything outside what we could have expected.

"This situation was totally unexpected, so we believe this case applies."

A force majeure is when ‘unforeseeable circumstances prevent someone from fulfilling a contract’.

And Wigan believe the coronavirus pandemic falls under that definition and therefore their punishment can subsequently be re-considered.

Krasner is currently looking to sell the club in order for them to escape financial turmoil.

He is pleading with buyers to have their final offers in by July 21 and is said to have sent out 50 non-disclosure agreements.

He added: "That shows the level of initial interest. From expressions of interest we have received, we would normally expect between three and five concrete bids."

Krasner also confirmed that all furloughed staff members at the club will be paid in full on Tuesday, but that the players will only be receiving 20 per cent of their salaries.