THE word hero has to be one of the most ridiculous and over-used words to describe footballers in newspapers and on television.

As a sub-editor and sometimes football writer myself, I've got to admit I've succumbed to its attractions when a fast approaching deadline has cut short thinking time.

The problem is, hero is such a good word. Like glory and ace, it meets the headline writer's main needs of being punchy, exciting, descriptive and, above all, short.

Of course, if we're looking for total accuracy in describing a footballer who has won the game for his side, headline writers should ditch the word hero and go for footballer who did his unfeasibly well paid job a bit better than everyone else'.

The trouble is, that won't fit into a headline so we're stuck with hero. I've often read El-Hadji Diouf described as a hero this season because of his excellent form for Bolton Wanderers.

There is no doubting his ability as he showed in sentencing Manchester City to defeat with a storming performance and the winning goal in the last Premiership match.

The other side of his nature, which he showed against Arsenal in the FA Cup last week, paints a different picture. The silliness in raising his hand at Jens Lehmann, for which he got sent off and a three-match ban; the blatant dive to win a penalty, and the game at Blackburn, and the disgusting spitting in the face of Portsmouth's Arjen de Zeeuw earlier in the season combine to prove what a tough task any manager will face in turning Diouf from a potential asset to a tangible one.

Diouf is an idol to many Bolton fans and disliked by others but he has the longest way to go of any footballer before he merits the media's flippant use of the word hero.

A man nearer the front of the queue is Wigan chairman, Dave Whelan. While players and managers get all the worship and accolades, sometimes it is the man who bankrolls the club who has enabled the biggest strides to be made towards success.

It is the case at Chelsea today and was the case at Bury 10 years back when then owner Hugh Eaves ploughed a fortune into transforming the Shakers' fortunes with two successive promotions before it all went sour.

Wigan and Premiership would never have been used in the same sentence when the Latics were plying their trade in the lower divisions before crowds of 2,500 at the run down Springfield Park.

They still struggle for crowds - Saturday's sub-10,000 against Millwall was about average for the season and poor for a top of the table Championship side - and this only makes Whelan's achievement all the more remarkable.