Wigan owner says he regrets the day he signed King

London: Wigan owner Dave Whelan has said that regrets the day he signed disgraced Jamaican striker Marlon King.

He was speaking after King was jailed for 18 months for sexual assault and ABH.

The Sun quoted Whelan, as saying: "The moment I heard he'd got 18 months, I said 'That's it, he's out. Sacked. Completely finished'. I always questioned whether he put his heart and soul into being a professional footballer. I regret the day we ever signed him."

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"We sent him out on loan and tried to off-load him - which tells you what I thought of him," he added.

Whelan further said that he sat King down before the start of this season and said 'Marlon, this is your last chance to make an impression at this club. I want you to stand up and show me you are a professional footballer'.

"It is just unfortunate the name of our club has been dragged into this," Whelan added.

Wigan signed King, 29, from Watford for five million pounds in January 2008.