Wigan defender Antolin Alcaraz scored with a header three minutes from time to end Blackburn's 11-year stay in the Premier League after a dismal season in which they have won just eight of their 37 league matches under manager Steve Kean.
"It is difficult to put into words what the atmosphere is like in the dressing room," Kean told reporters.
"A few things were thrown our way in the media last week, questioning our attitude, but I felt tonight we gave it a real good go.
"The disappointing thing is we couldn't take it to the last game. I will sit down with the owners and discuss a plan on how to assemble a squad to help us bounce back up."
"It doesn't seem real yet," Wigan manager Roberto Martinez told Sky Sports. "Is a great feeling. It was a difficult game, you could feel the tension and it was a cagey affair. But staying up is an incredible achievement."
