Wigan

[Vegas Claret]

Wigan have lost their points penalty appeal so have been relegated.

[ClaretTony]

I didn’t really think they had a chance. Whatever the reason for the admin it was nothing to do with the virus.

[Vegas Claret]

I didn’t really think they had a chance. Whatever the reason for the admin it was nothing to do with the virus.

thought it was more about the bet placed in the Philippines about them getting relegated wasn't it ?

[ClaretTony]

thought it was more about the bet placed in the Philippines about them getting relegated wasn't it ?

I don’t think that’s proven but there was surely something dodgy about it.

[randomclaret2]

Find myself in agreement with Mr Nixon's thoughts on the matter...
" Whatever your views are on the appeal result the fact is that a foreign owner chose to abandon a club. That can’t be allowed to happen again"

[Woodleyclaret]

The Football league has again failed a member and unfortunately Wigan wont be the last
A large measure of blame has to give with David Sharp's decision to sell Latics to make a quick profit
Clearly abandoning Grandad Dave's legacy asap

[Wellsy1882]

Good

[Zom Zom]

The Football league has again failed a member and unfortunately Wigan wont be the last
A large measure of blame has to give with David Sharp's decision to sell Latics to make a quick profit
Clearly abandoning Grandad Dave's legacy asap

It's just not sustainable for a club of that size, it was always going to end in heartache. The interest in football may have risen in Wigan over the last decade or whatever, but it shouldn't be ignored that they scrimped by on gates akin to 1400 for many years prior to Whelan's arrival. Bank-rolling a club an be great fun while it lasts, but when the cash dries up it's a quick return to what was.

I recall going to their place (Springfield Park and the DW) watching Burnley and there was more of us than them. My first visit there was a 1-1 draw and John Deary scored the equaliser with a free kick right at the death. Although my favourite memory is of a policeman who walked by the away 'end' (more of a grassy knoll than anything else) and was clearly riled by our supporters after their rendition of the Laurel and Hardy theme tune. Great days!

[box_of_frogs]

Find myself in agreement with Mr Nixon's thoughts on the matter...
" Whatever your views are on the appeal result the fact is that a foreign owner chose to abandon a club. That can’t be allowed to happen again"

I know what you mean, however, The owner can surely do as he pleases? If someone doesn’t like that then they can always buy the club themselves.....

[bfcjg]

Surely after this latest fiasco there should be a full independent enquiry to check that the governance of the football league is being run by fit and proper people never mind potential owners.
In my view they are not fit for purpose after this latest catastrophe.

[Chester Perry]

I know what you mean, however, The owner can surely do as he pleases? If someone doesn’t like that then they can always buy the club themselves.....

there have been enough English/British owners that have thrown clubs under a bus or is it a new rule in society that that is the only allowable way to do it - it could be argued that the Whelan family threw it under a bus, when having overfed it for decades, the got rid as soon as Dave Whelan was no longer in charge of the money. This is not an unusual pattern if you live in Lancashire (yes I know about technicalities over Greater Manchester) as Bolton and Blackburn will testify

[conyoviejo]

Good

And good from me as well.

[Clarets4me]

Find myself in agreement with Mr Nixon's thoughts on the matter...
" Whatever your views are on the appeal result the fact is that a foreign owner chose to abandon a club. That can’t be allowed to happen again"

Unfortunately, no law will be able to prevent this, it happens in the Business world all the time ! An owner decides to stop funding a loss-making Company, that looks unlikely to return to profit any-time soon, and places it in the hands of administrators or the receivers.

Football already has the " Football Creditor " rule, which gives those within the industry special status among creditors, and HMRC has already made one legal attempt to have it abolished ( v Exeter City, 2012 ). It's thought that it the main reason for HMRC's robust legal stance against Clubs who don't pay their VAT & PAYE on time.

[Zom Zom]

The BBC are reporting that if a buyer isn't found fairly pronto, they may not even begin the League Two fixtures, as the administrators are unwilling to provide guarantees.

[Chester Perry]

from the BBC

Wigan Athletic: Administrators set 31 August deadline to sell club
2 hours agoFrom the sectionWigan

Wigan may not be able to start the new season if the club is not sold by 31 August, say the Latics' administrators.

Four parties are in talks but administrators say if a deal is not completed it would leave them responsible for the team and the fulfilment of fixtures.

In a statement they said "they do not wish to commit to something we cannot see through" if the club is not sold.

The English Football League season is due to begin on Saturday, 12 September.

Despite the ultimatum, the administrators say they are optimistic a deal can be done.

"We are still hopeful that one of the bidders will be in a position to sign the contract as set out," they said.

"If the contract is not signed [by 31 August], we will have to reconsider the position on the basis that the new season starts a week later."

Wigan were officially relegated last week after they lost an appeal against a 12-point deduction for going into administration.

The Latics appealed against the punishment on the grounds of 'force majeure' however an independent arbitration panel ruled against them.

The club has also confirmed wages for all staff and the playing squad have been paid in full up to 31 July.

Wigan's supporters' club has advanced the Latics the funds needed to buy next season's first-team kit.

Meanwhile, Chey Dunkley became the latest Wigan player to leave following their relegation after he joined Sheffield Wednesday.

Earlier on Thursday, Kieffer Moore joined Cardiff City as players continue to be sold as the club looks to stabilise its finances prior to a sale.

[GodIsADeeJay81]

Surely after this latest fiasco there should be a full independent enquiry to check that the governance of the football league is being run by fit and proper people never mind potential owners.
In my view they are not fit for purpose after this latest catastrophe.

This is the issue that's helped you come to the conclusion that they're useless?

[bfcmik]

Find myself in agreement with Mr Nixon's thoughts on the matter...
" Whatever your views are on the appeal result the fact is that a foreign owner chose to abandon a club. That can’t be allowed to happen again"

Didn't the last EFL club to go out of business, around 12 months age, I believe, have an English born owner? I think he may well have even been a Lancastrian to boot.

[bfcmik]

Find myself in agreement with Mr Nixon's thoughts on the matter...
" Whatever your views are on the appeal result the fact is that a foreign owner chose to abandon a club. That can’t be allowed to happen again"

And the other EFL club in serious trouble at the same time, who happen to be yet another Greater Manchester team, also have an English owner? I can't recall the last time a foreign owner hung their club out to dry voluntarily.

[ClaretTony]

from the BBC

Wigan Athletic: Administrators set 31 August deadline to sell club
2 hours agoFrom the sectionWigan

Wigan may not be able to start the new season if the club is not sold by 31 August, say the Latics' administrators.

Four parties are in talks but administrators say if a deal is not completed it would leave them responsible for the team and the fulfilment of fixtures.

In a statement they said "they do not wish to commit to something we cannot see through" if the club is not sold.

The English Football League season is due to begin on Saturday, 12 September.

Despite the ultimatum, the administrators say they are optimistic a deal can be done.

"We are still hopeful that one of the bidders will be in a position to sign the contract as set out," they said.

"If the contract is not signed [by 31 August], we will have to reconsider the position on the basis that the new season starts a week later."

Wigan were officially relegated last week after they lost an appeal against a 12-point deduction for going into administration.

The Latics appealed against the punishment on the grounds of 'force majeure' however an independent arbitration panel ruled against them.

The club has also confirmed wages for all staff and the playing squad have been paid in full up to 31 July.

Wigan's supporters' club has advanced the Latics the funds needed to buy next season's first-team kit.

Meanwhile, Chey Dunkley became the latest Wigan player to leave following their relegation after he joined Sheffield Wednesday.

Earlier on Thursday, Kieffer Moore joined Cardiff City as players continue to be sold as the club looks to stabilise its finances prior to a sale.

Major problems now. Even if they find a buyer they are going to be left without players and having to build a squad at very short notice with a new manager who will probably be going in just days before the season starts.

[Chester Perry]

Major problems now. Even if they find a buyer they are going to be left without players and having to build a squad at very short notice with a new manager who will probably be going in just days before the season starts.

They are selling players on a daily basis - including their brightest youth prospects - much of which will go to the Administrators - they are the first to be paid - they also bill by every 6 minutes not the hour or half hour as most would

[ClaretTony]

They are selling players on a daily basis - including their brightest youth prospects - much of which will go to the Administrators - they are the first to be paid - they also bill by every 6 minutes not the hour or half hour as most would

They’d just stepped up to a Cat 2 academy in 2019/20 and done well. Apparently had some bright prospects but they are going along with some of their better first team players such as Moore & Dunkley, the two you mentioned.

I would think best case scenario for them now is getting a buyer and then somehow trying to avoid going down again next season.

What’s happened here is disgraceful but it is happening far too often at far too many clubs.

[mdd2]

Bolton last season, Wigan this. Similar re needing a buyer and having no real squad not long before the season starts

[Chester Perry]

Bolton last season, Wigan this. Similar re needing a buyer and having no real squad not long before the season starts

fast approaching a Bury scenario (like Charlton) if they cannot prove finances to the EFL for the coming season

[Conroysleftfoot]

Looking at some Wigan fan forums it's amazing the number of people who were scared of this happening if the Whelan family pulled out. They always thought that for a club with their support and resources they were totally out of their league and would come down to earth with a bump.

[Zom Zom]

I also feel that having a beneficiary to propel clubs to an unsustainable level should also be taken with extreme caution. Unless there are preparations to protect the club from self-imploding, as we have seen far too many times, it should not be allowed to happen.

I read that we are on the lookout for investment. I'm not totally in tune with what that entails, but looking around the country, it worries me. Just keep us doing what we are doing. The time may come when its not enough and we go down, but one drop is better than two, three or even four, with administration and no playing staff of note.

[Conroysleftfoot]

I also feel that having a beneficiary to propel clubs to an unsustainable level should also be taken with extreme caution. Unless there are preparations to protect the club from self-imploding, as we have seen far too many times, it should not be allowed to happen.

I read that we are on the lookout for investment. I'm not totally in tune with what that entails, but looking around the country, it worries me. Just keep us doing what we are doing. The time may come when its not enough and we go down, but one drop is better than two, three or even four, with administration and no playing staff of note.

My feelings exactly. You could feel that the real Wigan fans knew it would all end badly, I do hope they stay in the league and don't 'do a Bury'.

[GodIsADeeJay81]

https://www.theguardian.com/football/20 ... s-takeover

Erm...

[Chester Perry]

Quite frankly this story gets weirder and weirder - Au Yeung Wai Kay waives the £36m owed to him by club

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/53851995

full statement from the Administrators including a swipe at Alan Nixon

https://wiganathletic.com/news/2020/aug ... -20-08-20/

[ClaretTony]

I saw the headline this morning that he was waiving £36m that's owed to him. None of this makes any sense to me whatsoever.

[Chester Perry]

I saw the headline this morning that he was waiving £36m that's owed to him. None of this makes any sense to me whatsoever.

In many ways it gives credence to the big bet theory - I posted this on the MMT thread yesterday

Following the recent Wigan debacle this excerpt for a recent Europol report on Crime and Sport does not make for good reading - though upt to recently the betting syndicates have been targeting leagues like Cyprus.

https://twitter.com/vysyble/status/1295766227567226881

[Mala591]

Why would anyone want to buy a football club that isn't profitable/break even?

Semi-professional football is the only future for many teams below championship level.

[ecc]

Can I just check with other people please to see if I'm comprehending this properly?

a) a random Chinese businessman buys a club he had had no previous contact with;

b) very shortly after he calles in the administrators;

c) he now accepts to write off £36m "for the benefit of the club"

Is that what has actually happened?

[Chester Perry]

Can I just check with other people please to see if I'm comprehending this properly?

a) a random Chinese businessman buys a club he had had no previous contact with;

b) very shortly after he calles in the administrators;

c) he now accepts to write off £36m "for the benefit of the club"

Is that what has actually happened?

That is the story (though he reportedly checked out the administrators before signing the takeover documents) - very dodgy

[ClaretTony]

Can I just check with other people please to see if I'm comprehending this properly?

a) a random Chinese businessman buys a club he had had no previous contact with;

b) very shortly after he calles in the administrators;

c) he now accepts to write off £36m "for the benefit of the club"

Is that what has actually happened?

It does take some believing ecc

[ecc]

Thank you Chester and Tony.

Let's be honest -and I realise what I can and can't say on here - it does indeed take some believing.

[Chester Perry]

More strange goings on revealed at Wigan - turns out that Au Yeung bought the training ground weeks before he bought the club - interesting order of purchase - also with financing from a tax haven

https://twitter.com/KieranMaguire/statu ... 8742791170

[Claretpants]

rumour PNE buying training ground as it is in Chorley and their application to build their own training facility has stalled with planners

[ClaretTony]

rumour PNE buying training ground as it is in Chorley and their application to build their own training facility has stalled with planners

It's the old Bolton training ground at Euxton next to what was the Royal Ordinance Factory - seems you wouldn't want to buy it given what's happened to Bolton and now Wigan.

[Chester Perry]

As well as finding £4m for creditors (the 25% rule if they don't want to have more points taken away) Wigan's new owners will have to find money for these additional costs - that are still mounting

https://twitter.com/KieranMaguire/statu ... 2792180737

I said on the training ground sale thread viewtopic.php?f=2&t=49483 (which should be merged into this one) that the administrators were making the club a difficult buy this is another example as assets still keep getting sold off

[Chester Perry]

@KieranMaguire looks at some Wigan figures from the former owners IEC 's accounts which have just been published

https://twitter.com/KieranMaguire/statu ... 6879291393

noted this comment down the thread "It's figures like that which are going to make the case for unfettered state support for professional lower-division clubs very hard to gain universal acceptance."

[Chester Perry]

Administrator says he has agreed terms with a buyer - this one is Spanish, but has not been named

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54361786

[Chester Perry]

The New owner has been revealed

https://www.thebusinessdesk.com/northwe ... c-revealed

[Stayingup]

there is the possibility of appeal under a force majeure exemption

Force Majeure? Did God cause this?

[Chester Perry]

The administrators extend the period of exclusivity with the Spanish bid for the club

https://wiganathletic.com/news/2020/nov ... 11-11-20-/

[Chester Perry]

and now those talks have collapsed and Wigan will have to find a new bidder - some in the wings apparently - but real shenanigans it appears from the Spanish bidders (you know, the ones represented by Farnell)

https://twitter.com/mjshrimper/status/1 ... 9858801665

[Chester Perry]

from the BBC

Wigan Athletic: Takeover of administration-hit club breaks down
Last updated on1 minute ago1 minute ago.

The prospective takeover of Wigan Athletic by Leganes owner Felipe Moreno has fallen through.

The club's administrators announced they had ended negotiations with the bidder on Tuesday morning.

They said in a statement that the bid had been reduced by almost 50% over the weekend and proceeding with it would have resulted in a 15-point deduction for the League One club.

Wigan are currently 22nd in the table, two points adrift of safety.

Moreno had initially been part of a Spanish consortium looking to buy the club before the English Football League rejected their application at the start of December because one of the group was subject to a disqualifying condition.

Moreno subsequently became the sole bidder and it had been hoped the deal would be completed at some point between Christmas and 1 January.

The Latics have been in administration since July 2020.

The 12-point deduction they received for entering administration saw them relegated from the Championship and they were then forced to sell the majority of the senior squad.

Manager Paul Cook left over the summer and his replacement John Sheridan also quit to take over at fellow third-tier strugglers Swindon Town.

The administrators added that they were "now starting to talk to other bidders who have expressed interest and will provide an update when there is any definite news".

[arise_sir_charge]

Sounds like they need Chris Farnell to come and save the day.

[Quicknick]

RL town.

[Chester Perry]

Sounds like they need Chris Farnell to come and save the day.

see my first post today on this thread - Farnell was representing the Spanish bid

[Colburn_Claret]

Isn't it time that as well as checking on potential new owners, the FA carry out checks on potential middle men.
Farnell has a horrible reputation. I'm not in the loop so don't know wether that is justified, but Charlton,, Wigan, and the cloud of mystery surrounding the Egyptians bid for us, all tend to support the mud slung at him.
As dodgy potential buyers, with dodgy money claims, are more likely to use a dodgy solicitor than an honest, transparent one. Isn't it time somebody drew a line through his name and says enough is enough.