We are officially lodgers at the DW Stadium..

[ancientnloyal]

He has changed his tune hasn't he.

Guys and gals, don't worry. When Whelan stops bank rolling Wigan Athletic they will suffer. Last year the Latics had an average attendance of just over 18,000. On average around 3,000 are away supports with the likes of man u, city, arsenal, chelsea, liverpudlian clubs and newcastle completely filling the North Stand. In reality Latics have around 13-15,000 football fans (wanting to see ronaldo, rooney, fabregas etc... so are curious to turn up). That isn't enough through basically shirt sales to bankroll the club to buy big name players. Latics already struggle to attract middle-range names to the JJB and they will make it hard to attract them when Whelan jumps out.

The only way is down, relegation. Roberto Martinez... the Shearer of Wigan, who is he? Bruce and Jewell were too good for wigan hence decent league standings.

Once Latics get to the Championship again crowds will go down (i doubt the likes of scunthorpe will fill the north stand) less money, less crowd etc etc... They wont attract players... Charlton, Southampton (if they come back up from League 1) Sheffield U/W, Preston, Reading, Newcastle, Boro, West Brom (to name a few) are all bigger names and will attract the better championship players.

The good times for Latics is ending.

Robin Park, the Home of Wigan Warriors RLFC!

[ancientnloyal]

On another note... if the council own 15% of the stadium, under the Freedom of Information Act is it possible to view documents from Wigan Council?

[cpwigan]

Whelan is on his last legs. He is 73 and can barely get into a car.

[Shaun1967]

On another note... if the council own 15% of the stadium, under the Freedom of Information Act is it possible to view documents from Wigan Council?

As Council Tax payers, I suppose legally we all have a right to know the ins and outs of any deals that affect the council shares. However, you need to remember that most of Wigan council live in Dave Whelans pocket.

As for your first point about Whelan not bankrolling Latics any further, I don't think things will reach this stage.
As Mike B said earlier, he knows he can't afford to take Latics much further. If he can't sell them with Premiership status, and reasonably small debts in Premiership terms, then he is going to lose a lot more money allowing them to drop into the Championship. He won't do this, he probably doesn't give blood because he doesn't get paid for it!

[highland convert]

Could be good for Warriors. Latics drop a div, Equity becomes zilch. IL buys latics at a discount price, tranfers stagium to WW, then sends Latics to the school playgroud

[trotski_tgwu]

On another note... if the council own 15% of the stadium, under the Freedom of Information Act is it possible to view documents from Wigan Council?

As Council Tax payers, I suppose legally we all have a right to know the ins and outs of any deals that affect the council shares. However, you need to remember that most of Wigan council live in Dave Whelans pocket.

As for your first point about Whelan not bankrolling Latics any further, I don't think things will reach this stage.
As Mike B said earlier, he knows he can't afford to take Latics much further. If he can't sell them with Premiership status, and reasonably small debts in Premiership terms, then he is going to lose a lot more money allowing them to drop into the Championship. He won't do this, he probably doesn't give blood because he doesn't get paid for it!

Under the freedom of information act you dont just need to be a Wigan council tax payer to request the information about the councils share in the jjb. as a british citizen living in the uk you have the right to request such information

[Shaun1967]

I was mistaken with the 99 year lease.
When Lenegan bought the club in 2007, he negotiated a lease to 2050.
In effect, this new 50 year lease will give us an extra 9 years.

[Ancientbutloyal]

I thought Wigan Council had a minor holding in the stadium? what happens to that?

[weststand-rich]

I suspected the miserable old feck would do something like this. He has systematically asseted stripped the rugby rugby club and used the proceeds to bankroll the lactics through their lean years.

If in 1997 the proposition had been this from Whelan, who would have had their hands up:

"Okay Wigan fans, this is the deal. We'll sell Central Park and Springfield park and use the money to fund in part a new joint stadium. Wigan rugby, more money comes from your sale and your attendences can prop up the stadium for the first eight years or so. Now the good bit. What I'll do then is sell the club when I've got the huff. And because I favour the football club and just becuase I can, I'll give the asset to the football club and bleed you a bit more for leasing you back the stadium. Oh, and I'll have all the cash from the bar and food. Thanks for everything! Chin Chin!"

[cpwigan]

Jack Robinson took a lot of criticism for trying to fight Whelan off. With hindsight he was right and badly maluigned by many Wigan fans.