Wigan Athletic’s future has been secured after a company backed by the local billionaire Mike Danson purchased the financially troubled club.
Danson, the entrepreneur who founded GlobalData PLC and has a 25% stake in the Super League club Wigan Warriors, completed the purchase on Wednesday to alleviate fears that the 2013 FA Cup winners could go out of business.
Wigan were served with a winding-up petition by HMRC on Monday over unpaid tax bills and placed under a transfer embargo last week by the English Football League. The club are also due to start the new League One season on minus-eight points as punishment for failing to pay players on time on five separate occasions during the previous season, when the club were docked another three points and finished bottom of the Championship.
As part of the takeover from Pheonix 2021 Limited, funds have been paid into the club to cover all outstanding debt, to pay players and staff immediately along with other creditors. A new chief executive will be announced in due course and Shaun Maloney will remain as the manager.
Danson, who also owns the New Statesman magazine, said: “I am delighted to become involved in Wigan Athletic Football Club. I was born in Wigan, I grew up locally and the community of the town is close to my heart. We have worked hard to provide the EFL with a realistic financial plan to stabilise operations. We look forward to a fresh start for the club and planning for the upcoming season.
“Many community and club representatives including Lisa Nandy MP, David Molyneux, executive leader of Wigan Council and Alison McKenzie-Folan, CEO of Wigan Council, along with the Official Wigan Athletic Supporters Club and the EFL, have worked extremely hard to bring about a positive conclusion to the club’s recent troubles. Wigan Athletic and its fans have had a lot of uncertainty over recent years and the most important thing now is to give all stakeholders the opportunity to focus on the season ahead.”
The EFL chair, Rick Parry, also paid tribute to Nandy and Danson for helping a club that has changed hands with dire consequences several times since the Whelan family sold up in 2018.
Parry said: “After an extremely worrying period for fans, Wigan Athletic can now look forward to building a brighter future. Our thanks go to the club, Mike Danson and all those that enabled our relevant processes to be considered quickly, with a special mention for Lisa Nandy MP who has once again worked round the clock, recognising the vital role that EFL clubs play in their communities and showing the difference that engaged MPs can make to their local football clubs.”
