Whelan bought Wigan Athletic in 1995 (Getty)

Stoke City chairman Peter Coates will have to spend big money to survive in the Premier League, according to Wigan Athletic owner Dave Whelan.

Wigan were promoted to the Premiership as Championship runners-up in 2005 and they have managed to stay there since.

Whelan says Coates will soon find out the reality of being in the top flight.

"The demands of the players in this league is massive, paying �20,000 a week is average. It's mind boggling," he told BBC Radio Stoke.