Re: Latics in administration - Lenagan leading bid : Wed Dec 09, 2020 9:00 pm  

I remember once being lucky enough to be invited to the chairman’s box by IFL for a game shortly after he took over the club. DW walked into the room at half time, looked through the window to see the kids playing their half time game ‘get them f%&king kids off my pitch’ he shouted in front of everyone. Hardly ever seen kids playing at half time since, only around the time prior to the pitch getting resurfaced.

Re: Latics in administration - Lenagan leading bid : Thu Dec 10, 2020 7:52 am  

Only put in around 20% of the cost of the Stadium but sold it along with his "beloved" Latic's at a profit.

Did he donate the Stadium to the town and people of Wigan and just sell the Latic's on its own?

No, the bigger profit the better and sod Wigan!

Only proved that when he had won a trophy, his interest in the Latics declined by buying cheaper players with the result that the Latics and the Stadium ended up in administration like his JJB Store business where he also made a profit for himself.

That's how much Whelan cared about Wigan!

Re: Latics in administration - Lenagan leading bid : Thu Dec 10, 2020 4:53 pm  

Seeing as how we're all going on about Whelan I might as well share my families experiences with him. People assume my hatred of Whelan comes from the fact I'm a rugby fan but it comes from the way he treated my grandad when he worked for Whelan at Rathbones. My grandad was one of Whelan's top bakers for many years and had to have some time off to have a triple bypass. Firstly my grandad had a company Merc from Whelan but two days after his operation Whelan sent two of his goons around to my nan and grandad's house who practically barged past my nan when she opened the door, took the keys off the hook and drove off with it.

Then a few weeks later my grandad returned to work (much sooner than he should have done) went to his office, opened his desk drawer to find that his recipe book that he made himself and written over 30 years (so long before he even worked for Whelan) had gone, when he confronted Whelan about it he claimed that it was his property and not my grandad's. A few other things happened after that and my nan and grandad got a lawyer and were ready to take him to court but then something happened (I'm not sure what exactly) and were then advised they should leave it.

Re: Latics in administration - Lenagan leading bid : Thu Dec 10, 2020 5:22 pm  

MikeL1993 wrote:

Seeing as how we're all going on about Whelan I might as well share my families experiences with him. People assume my hatred of Whelan comes from the fact I'm a rugby fan but it comes from the way he treated my grandad when he worked for Whelan at Rathbones. My grandad was one of Whelan's top bakers for many years and had to have some time off to have a triple bypass. Firstly my grandad had a company Merc from Whelan but two days after his operation Whelan sent two of his goons around to my nan and grandad's house who practically barged past my nan when she opened the door, took the keys off the hook and drove off with it.

Then a few weeks later my grandad returned to work (much sooner than he should have done) went to his office, opened his desk drawer to find that his recipe book that he made himself and written over 30 years (so long before he even worked for Whelan) had gone, when he confronted Whelan about it he claimed that it was his property and not my grandad's. A few other things happened after that and my nan and grandad got a lawyer and were ready to take him to court but then something happened (I'm not sure what exactly) and were then advised they should leave it.

That's deplorable. I've removed my previous sarcy comment about Whelan myths, no one should be treated like that.

Re: Latics in administration - Lenagan leading bid : Thu Dec 10, 2020 5:30 pm  

Ruddy Duck wrote:

Only put in around 20% of the cost of the Stadium but sold it along with his "beloved" Latic's at a profit.

Did he donate the Stadium to the town and people of Wigan and just sell the Latic's on its own?

No, the bigger profit the better and sod Wigan!

Only proved that when he had won a trophy, his interest in the Latics declined by buying cheaper players with the result that the Latics and the Stadium ended up in administration like his JJB Store business where he also made a profit for himself.

That's how much Whelan cared about Wigan!

im not sure he put anything in after the councils money and the sale of central park had the debts removed

Re: Latics in administration - Lenagan leading bid : Thu Dec 10, 2020 6:27 pm  

No money from the sale of CP went into the new stadium

Re: Latics in administration - Lenagan leading bid : Thu Dec 10, 2020 8:00 pm  

Egg Chasing wrote:

No money from the sale of CP went into the new stadium

just into his pocket?

Re: Latics in administration - Lenagan leading bid : Thu Dec 10, 2020 8:40 pm  

Did he even own the club when we sold CP?

Re: Latics in administration - Lenagan leading bid : Thu Dec 10, 2020 9:15 pm  

Grimmy wrote:

That's deplorable. I've removed my previous sarcy comment about Whelan myths, no one should be treated like that.

Grimmy i wasnt personally impacted as i was only there for 12 months but saw enough to form an opinion of the man. Whilst he may come across on TV / radio as the loveable uncle Dave, trust me his is far from it when it comes to business, he is as ruthless as they come (and some).

i know we are all entitled to our opinions and some may love the guy, but he is genuinely someone i wouldnt trust if my life depended on it. i think i would trust some of the Wire and Saints posters on here before DW

Re: Latics in administration - Lenagan leading bid : Fri Dec 11, 2020 10:07 am  

Pieman wrote:

im not sure he put anything in after the councils money and the sale of central park had the debts removed

He put in only around 20% as I have stated, a fact confirmed to me by a local businessman who knew a lot about the financing of the Stadium.

Nothing went into the building of the Stadium from the sale of Central Park as the money came form various grants, the share of 14% of the Council and the 20% contribution of Whelan.

After the debts of around £6.5 million to creditors, the remaining £6.00 million of the £12.5 million form Tesco went in the funds of the club which was later bought by Whelan after the DW Stadium had been built.