Quote ="Dougy"Wigan the only full time pro team from 1985-1995????? where's the proof of this? Wigan turned full time pro in the summer of 1991 ahead of the 1991-1992 season. Leeds also turned full time pro time pro the same summer.
Read a book written call Mud, Blood and Glory(i think its that one) chronicling Wigan's season of 1990/91 where part of the book is the writer going visting the players in their day to day jobs and spending time with Maurice Lyndsay as he constantly is looking for improving income streams and sponsorship to bring in necessary funds to help the Wigan players become 'full time' in readiness for the 91/92 to help complete with Leeds who had already announced this transistion. Its pity other clubs didn't have owners/chairman with the same motivation to improve their clubs and instead just relied on the fame of Wigan to bring in Sky Sports money to help them.
IN a nutshell, Wigan only play at the DW Stadium because Dave Whelan got funding(approx 50% of the cost of the stadium) as long as it was a multi sports stadium. Dave Whelan had stalled on plans to build this stadium just for Wigan Athletic because he didn't get the funding - without Wigan RL.
What contributed to Wigan losing Central Park was because the RFL pulled the rug from under Wigan's feet by reducing income streams - reduction in home league games from 15 to 11. That's four less 14,000+ crowds a season. Scrapping of the Lancs Cup, an almost annual 3 or 4 matches of income and prize money, scrapping of the Regal Trophy, again almost guarenteed revenue streams per annum. Of course shoddy leadership from Jack Robinson and co didn't help, they sold Central Park when their was alternatives. Whelan offered around £4m to turn Central Park into a 20,000 all seater stadium(the photos and plans bring a tear to the eye) but Tesco offered £11m to turn it into a car park and the rest is history.
If Wigan aren't the biggest team in Super League, who are?'"
What a complete end of a bell you are, Wigan's success in the 90's sent them bust and Central Park had to be sold to keep the club alive. Get a grip man.
