Irish midfielder Gareth Farrelly has completed a move to English First Division promotion chasers Wigan Athletic after leaving Premiership outfit Bolton Wanderers two weeks ago by mutual consent.

The 28-year-old Dubliner, whose career in England has involved several long spells on the sidelines, said he was delighted with the prospect of playing at the JJB Stadium, where he will link up with compatriot Alan Mahon.

"I'm really pleased to be here," said Farrelly, "and it's good to get away from Bolton, where things weren't working out for me or the club.

"It's horrible to be out of the team when you're a footballer, and after the couple of loan spells I've had at Burnley and Bradford it was great when the call came through about coming here.

"What I've got to do now," he added, "is prove myself. There are no guarantees, but I have until the end of the season and hopefully I can do well enough to earn myself a longer deal."

The move should give Farrelly, who has also played at Everton and Aston Villa and has previously performed strongly in the First Division, a chance to re-establish himself as a first-team regular after being entirely marginalised by Sam Allardyce at the Reebok.

The left-sided midfielder, who earned six international caps between 1996 and 2000, started 74 games since joining Wanderers in December 1999, but had not featured in the club's first team at all this season.

The move may also open the door to a swift Premiership return.

Wigan currently lie third in Division One, seven points behind West Brom in second but with a game in hand.