It's official - Latics own the ground, Wigan rent it : Wed Jun 17, 2009 8:54 am  

Whelan is handing the stadium over to Wigan Athletic. I'm going to resist the temptation to take the p*ss as I find this a little worrying. http://www.wigantoday.net/wigannews/Whelan-looking-to-the-future.5372912.jp I hope this doesn't end in Premiership relegation tears.

Whelan is handing the stadium over to Wigan Athletic. I'm going to resist the temptation to take the p*ss as I find this a little worrying. http://www.wigantoday.net/wigannews/Whelan-looking-to-the-future.5372912.jp I hope this doesn't end in Premiership relegation tears.

: Wed Jun 17, 2009 9:00 am  

whelan has extended the lease for the worriers to 50yrs and denounced latics fans that oppose one of the stands to be named after billy boston i dont see the problem...

: Wed Jun 17, 2009 9:03 am  

I agree, the small print here could be very worrying. For example if/when he retires and sells the club, would any potential buyer want Wigan RL in their club? doubtful.

: Wed Jun 17, 2009 9:07 am  

The situation hasn't really changed in practical terms for Wigan RL.

But I can see how people would want to gloat about this. I for one am just a little brassed off that Wigan Athletic are being given something of material value, whereas Wigan RL are getting token gestures.

What don't like, more than anything, is how Whelan has gone in the press and on the radio and said that he wants to 'unite' the town, and that, as Wiganers, we should support both teams in equal measure, yet his actions are actually very divisive.

: Wed Jun 17, 2009 9:25 am  

Whelan's loyalties have always been with the football club. I remember Jack Robinson warning this would happen when he gave that "Dark forces at work behind the scenes" speech before he left.

: Wed Jun 17, 2009 10:14 am  

Lets not forget that the rugby league were bankrupt when Whelan adopted them.

He adopted them purely so the planning application for the JJB would be successful, as it would have a multi-use angle.

It is therefore only right that the football club gets the ground when Whelan departs as it's their stadium. The rugby league team playing there was only ever a mutual favour. The rugby league team should have nothing at all in terms of assets bar a few bibs and traffic cones, but I think Whelan asset stripped Orrell RUFC and gave that to Wigan RL lock stock and barrell didn't he, so it's not like they've got anything to complain about.

What should happen from now is the FC kicking RL out to play at Orrell. It's a perfectly suitable ground for the National Leagues after all and thats where Wigan would be were it not for their blatant cheating the year Cas went down.

: Wed Jun 17, 2009 11:02 am  

Saddened! wrote:

Lets not forget that the rugby league were bankrupt when Whelan adopted them.

He adopted them purely so the planning application for the JJB would be successful, as it would have a multi-use angle.

It is therefore only right that the football club gets the ground when Whelan departs as it's their stadium. The rugby league team playing there was only ever a mutual favour. The rugby league team should have nothing at all in terms of assets bar a few bibs and traffic cones, but I think Whelan asset stripped Orrell RUFC and gave that to Wigan RL lock stock and barrell didn't he, so it's not like they've got anything to complain about.

What should happen from now is the FC kicking RL out to play at Orrell. It's a perfectly suitable ground for the National Leagues after all and thats where Wigan would be were it not for their blatant cheating the year Cas went down.

exactly - Wigan have a lot more now than they did before Whelan stepped in to save them.

: Wed Jun 17, 2009 11:31 am  

Saddened! wrote:

What should happen from now is the FC kicking RL out to play at Orrell. It's a perfectly suitable ground for the National Leagues after all and thats where Wigan would be were it not for their blatant cheating the year Cas went down.

Tripe, if they had gone down that year, which i agree they probably should have, they'd have been straight back up the year after.

: Wed Jun 17, 2009 11:40 am  

was the original lease for 99 years? so they can use the ground for another 140 years or so. nothing really to worry about is it.

bloody cuckoo's they are!!

: Wed Jun 17, 2009 12:17 pm  

SAINT ANDREW wrote:

was the original lease for 99 years? so they can use the ground for another 140 years or so. nothing really to worry about is it.

bloody cuckoo's they are!!

nah, the orignal 99 year lease has been shortened to 50 years.