WIGAN Athletic's full-time press officer and media manager Chris Ammonds will be watching Saturday's FA Cup clash at Edgar Street with divided loyalties.

The 26-year-old born-and-bred Herefordshire sportsman is a 'massive' Bulls supporter who follows the club regularly, but he has been working with the Latics since the end of February.

More commonly known as 'Stig', the former Wigmore High School pupil now lives in south Manchester and admits that a cup clash between his favourite club and his employers was not something he really wanted.

"To be honest, it was the last draw that I hoped would come out of the hat," said Ammonds, a former Presteigne footballer and first team cricket captain of Shobdon, the village where he was raised.

"But I am looking forward to the tie and, in a strange sort of way, I will end up on the winning side whatever the result."

The son of Phyllis and Mike Ammonds, 'Stig' was raised at the family home in Shobdon with his brothers Mark and Tom.

Though he has followed the Bulls on a number of their journeys in the FA Cup, Ammonds struggles to see how his home county club will find a way past the big-spending Second Division high-flyers.

"With the way that Wigan are playing at the moment, unless they have an off-day, I cannot see how Hereford will win the game. However, if they can raise their game and Wigan play poorly, then anything is possible."

He added: "Whenever Hereford play on television I always hope that they give a good account of themselves. You just want the team to give a good showing and, as we all saw last year against Wrexham, anything can happen."