wˈæli wʌz ðˈɛn ɪnvˈɑːlvd ɪn ɐ kəntɹˈæktʃuːəl dɪspjˈuːt ˌoʊvɚɹ ɐ pˈaʊnd fˈɪfti,zˈiəɹoʊzˈiəɹoʊ zˈiəɹoʊ ɐpˈɪɹəns bˈoʊnəs, ænd hæd hɪz kˈɑːntɹækt kˈænsəld baɪ ðə klˈʌb, sˈaɪnɪŋ fɔːɹ ˌiːˌɛfˈɛl tʃˈæmpiənʃˌɪp sˈaɪd wˈɪɡən æθlˈɛɾɪk ɪn sɛptˈɛmbɚ tˈuː θˈaʊzənd fˈoːɹ.
Whalley was then involved in a contractual dispute over a £50,000 appearance bonus, and had his contract cancelled by the club, signing for EFL Championship side Wigan Athletic in September 2004.