Lenagans talked about something similar since he's took over but we're still waiting!

Infact if it takes him until a couple of weeks before the season starts to sort out a sponsor this could literally take him 40 years so i'm not holding my breath!

That just about sums it up, Alex. Well said. I feel more 'sad acceptance' than anger.

To be fair to Lenegan, he's only been in charge five minutes. You might think it's a long time, but a year or two in business is nothing, and certainly not a timescale in which you can make sweeping changes. You certainly couldn't acquire, plan, apply for planning permission for, build finance and open something like that in the space of time that Lenegan's been here.

Aye fair do's in the respect of a clubhouse/bar type building being rushed through as it will take time but the real worry is that every other aspect of decision making since he's come in has taken an age, from signing players to sorting out the new shirt and so on.

This Noble situation will drag on aswell and nobody knows where they stand.

I suppose sometimes it pays not to rush into decisions but we can't afford to take too much time over certain things either like we've done so far.

Didn't he say some time back that he would be leaving the stadium to the people of wigan, as such the clubs would own a share apiece.

Disgraceful about turn in my mind. DW can take his sports and his stadium for me, I'd rather play Asda's car park.

Nope they had it spot on!!

you probably have more chance of going bust than us.

the money in football now is shocking because if we do get relegated that parachute payment comes into place.

The parachute payment is a drop in the ocean to a lot of clubs and the phenomenal debt they are in... (See Leeds). It will be interesting to see how Newcastle Utd cope with their parachute payment.

The clubs have to stay viable. Latics getting relegated would finish the club imho.

The reason I thought Rock FM had got it wrong was that the idea of Whelan giving something when he could get money for it seemed perhaps not in character. Obviously he is giving it over to the Latics.
Although we have a lease for (as I understand it) 25 years + 25 there surely must be some variables which come up for re-negotiation during that period.
The Latics owe zillions and Whelan has said he intends making them debt free. Their turnover this year must be in the region of £80m and that's the difference now between premiership soccer and the rest.
The Boston stand will probably be the North Stand where the away fans go. That way it won't affect 'tics fans who said they wouldn't sit in any stand named after a Rugby player.

Well if Whelan remains in charge I really can't see you going bankrupt. He's reluctant to really delve in to his fortune unless the fans start showing up on a weekly basis.

With regards to us going bankrupt, that's really not an option with the salary cap in place. It's impossible for us to spend anywhere near our total income on staff wages.

I'm also feeling like I won't sit in a stadium owned by the Latics...

He did say that yes.

Dave

I'm a Latics fans aswell as the Rugby and really do worry what will happen to the football club when Whelan moves on.

If you look at Blackburn after Walker died they went from being a big spending club to possibly the poorest club in the prem and got relegated not long after. Jack Walker left them some money but even that was only a drop in the ocean and Whelan isn't as rich as Walker was.

Even with the Sky payout every year Latics are still losing fortunes yet they can manage these whilst they are in the prem and have Whelan as a safeguard.

If both of those ever get taken away then it's going to be a struggle.

No wonder he's been scouring the globe for a rich buyer.

That parachute payment will disappear in no time, and well you know it. The money in football is all at the top, and may soon be largely concentrated in a European super competition. But you won't go bust. Whelan wouldn't allow that. As for us - we aren't allowed to spend our money. So there's no chance of us disappearing.

Looks like we're both in it together for the long haul.

I will be seriously annoyed if it's the North stand. I would like it to be the east 1. because I sit there so I am biased and 2. because it would annoy the latics fans the most

but I think it should be the west because correct me if I am wrong but isn't that where Billy sits.

It'll be the North stand without doubt imo.

Could it be that he's given the ground to the football club because he is going to sell his shares in Latics? That would make the share value of Latics increase dramatically.

Wouldn't put it past him he's a slippy bugger.

Surely once the football club own the ground they can rename the stands if they want to? If enough football fans bend their ear about it I doubt it'll stay the Boston stand for long.

Depends on the contract handing over the stadium officially to the football club.

£10 says they call one of them the Sean Long stand!

Yep, it does.

Fitness first next to the stadium is ideal - but again, its another thing IL went quiet about.

Kudos is a no go given the amount the landlords want for the space, there is still a company paying rent on it, so they have no reason to do anything with it.


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With regards the stadium, absolutely nothing has changed, as long as the RL & FC boards get along, nothing will be an issue or change. It certainly isnt worth a massive overreaction.

For me the ideal spot would be the old Chapelhouse car showroom near Seven Stars
1 its on a busy artery to Wigan ,buses pass it every day and is in walking distance from Wigan.In a prominent position not far from the stadium.
2 the building is deceptive from the front it looks nothing but there is another building at the back that used to be the workshop,
3 The builing is tall and could easily accomadate a mezzinine floor doubling its capacity making it ample room for a club shop ,museum ,meeting place .bar etc .

Surely if Dave Whelan wanted to give the stadium to the people of Wigan he would put it in a trust with ownership split one third rugby, one third football one third wigan council.

By seceeding ownership entirely to the football club, then Wigan RL now find themselves in potentially a very weak position.

We have already seen issues whereby the club has to move fixtures to suit the soccer team.

I think International RL may soon be off the menu at the DW stadium as it would interfere with the pitch during the premiership season.

From a financial point of view Wigan RL are now confirmed as asset poor. Without assets, the club will find it harder to raise capital from banks, to finance the business.

Wigan fans should also be concerned at the potential to vary the terms of the lease agreement.
Wigan Athletic could in theory demand revised terms of the lease. Especially if the current lease is below commercial rates.
Such a scenario would impact on the RLs income streams.

Purely from the psychological point of view, its damaging for the prestige of Wigan RL club. Imagine turning up at a ground where everything is in the colours of Wigan athletic. Where there is little to no mention of the RL club. Where the only pictures in the stadium are of football players and teams.

This loss of prestige will also impact on Wigans ability in future to attract and retain high quality players. For example who wants to play for a club were you cant train on the pitch. Where the only time you are allowed at the stadium is on match day. Where fixtures are at the whim of the soccer club, meaning that you may have to play 4 away matches in a row. Where cup games may have to be played at a neutral venue.

We own a stadium in Orrell.

That's a pretty big asset?

No less than most Super League clubs in fact.

Thats the key for me - it would be interesting to read the lease the Warriors have - rent reviews, break clauses etc.