Tycoons in bid to launch sports club

Two of Wigan's richest men are backing ambitious plans to create a new sports club.
Latics chairman Dave Whelan and former crane hire boss Martin Ainscough are prepared to pump their money into the scheme.
It aims to attract thousands of youngsters, introduce them to new sports and pastimes, and keep them off the streets and out of trouble.

The businessmen have already been in talks with Metro chiefs and three possible sites have been identified, but they are also looking for other business partners and contributors to come on board.

One of the sites under consideration is the Mesnes Field bordered by New Market Street and Mesnes Park Terrace which is currently designated as an open space.

There were protests when the Metro proposed using the land for a temporary car park to counter a shortage of spaces elsewhere while the Grand Arcade was being built, and a promise was fulfilled in restoring it to an open space.

The Metro would have to go through a legal process to allow building if that site was deemed the most desirable. The other two options under consideration have not been revealed although one is under council ownership and the other is not.

The Wigan club is likely to be based on the nationally-acclaimed Bolton Lads' and Girls' Club which currently boasts around 3,000 members and launched Amir Khan's boxing career.

Mr Whelan said: "We had a Wigan Boys' Club in Clayton Street, Wallgate, just after the war and it later moved to Soho Street near the Asda store but what they did not have was a proper gymnasium, boxing area or playing fields which this new project should have, and it never took off.

"But it got me off the street playing in a brass band and playing football. The latter led to me signing for Blackburn Rovers.
"That's where it all started. That's what gave me a big break and so it could be repeated for so many other young people in Wigan today."

Mr Ainscough said: "We are wholeheartedly behind this scheme but we don't want people to think this is the Whelan and Ainscough Show. We are looking for other funders and we are just starting the appeal off.
"This is a project for the Wigan community and it's a bit like the way Wigan Hospice got started with business contributions."

Metro leader Lord Smith said this was a serious and concerted attempt to give young people new interests and engage talents.
The aim would be to have the club close to Wigan town centre to attract a wide membership and be near public transport.

He said: "We are looking at three locations on which buildings and pitches would be placed and we need to talk to our partners and share our thoughts with them.

"One site suggested is the Mesnes Field. That is currently designated as open space in the current plan and if we wanted to change its usage there are criteria to meet. Each site will be properly assessed.
"But we do feel it is important to get one of these centres for Wigan. Young people get a lot of criticism but we need to channel their talents and interests into something positive.

"The Government is offering a range of support for these kinds of projects.
"I have been to have a look at the Bolton example and it is very impressive. They do a whole range of activities for boys and girls – some 20 in all – including sport and climbing and have around 3,000
members."

Very generous! Or do they make money out of it?

Oh you cynic! I'm sure Messers Whelan and Ainscough only have altruistic thoughts when considering all this.

Whilst i applaud any initiative that stops little b'stards stabbing each other or even worse, innocent people, this does smack a little bit of
Where's my "Knighthood"
Also, the highlighted bit is either lazy journalism or a very pythonesque vision of Dave Wheelan playing various brass wind instruments on the back streets of Wigan


Either way, give him his gong if he gets this up and running

i mite be a cynic but the football club owner will flood the place with tickets for his own side.

Save the Field of Dreams!!!

Indeed!!!

True.

However, remember the last time we trained there? Those smackheads were fighting each other.

It was great to watch.

If I was a cynic, I might think that Whelan's sporting club is really a feeder club for the latics, an early way to idnetify talent? Somehow can't see him pushing the claims of RL, so it could be a blow for future youth development in the area.

Not really, Whelen could already be doing more to scout the best young players for his club but Man Utd Liverpool Blackburn and Bolton are taking more interest in youth football in Wigan. My nephew plays for a football side under the nose of Wigan Ath but has never had any contact from anyone from Wigan Athletic but from all 4 of the clubs i have mentioned and this has led him to sign papers for Liverpool rather than a team on his doorstep who he has a season ticket for.

Little did we know 1 year later most of Kottys family would be training with us...

ROFL i thought i recognised the bike

Good idea. Wigan needs something like that. I do a lot of youth work mainly around Bolton becasue we dont have any facilitys to match them in Wigan. They make there money of goverment funding, thats how i got paid.

Hull Derby?

i remember when they used to play cricket on there....wigan grammar i think.
i digress.

there are plenty of places for kids to go. Rosebridge runs its own youth club as well as rugby teams. There must be more round wigan.

the days of the "boys clubs" are long past.
youth clubs are usually run in conjunction with other sports (see above)
boys brigades and brass bands are becoming defunct as kids find other things to do.....like go to night clubs like the top spot and caff.

only people to gain from this are Whelan, Ainscough, and a few drug dealers who will spy it as an outlet.

leave the field alone and go pump money into the community some other way.

im a member of a financially struggling cricket club who take kids off the street in a deprived area.
we would welcome a donation from messrs whelan and ainscough.

There must be money to made, or indeed an easy government or european, or olympic handout to be had if them two are involved.

I dont think there is anything wrong with that if it gets people into sport.

Wigan has always been good for having loads of kids in the area playing rugby, this could increase that number, so thats good.

Personally I think it's a great idea, whether Whelan is involved or not as long as, like the article says, it's not just the Whelan and Ainscough show and this is for the youth of Wigan.

Can't wait until Whelan wants to play on it and it's unavailable.