The end is nigh,,,,,,,,

Interesting reading. Amazing they still made a loss of £11m in the year they sold Palacios for a profit of c£14m. Indicates their trading loss is more around the £25m mark.

People who say Whelan is only in it for the money couldn't be more wrong judging by that.

The question is how long can Whelan afford to fund these losses with his dwindling fortune. I've heard is that he is going to push the club into debt further by selling the stadium to the club.

In reality though who would want to buy a club that will probably be relegated this year with huge debts. They need to keep hold of their premiership place to hold any chance of survival and someone to takeover them.

Maybe Whelan taking them to the top could turn out to be a poisoned chalice, it could actually contribute to them falling out of existance.

The most damning statistic is the wages as proportion of turnover at 89%.

That as a business is unsustainable.

Nailed on in my book

Worst or not, that's a scary figure.

Palacios, Heskey, Valencia and the rest who have been sold since Steve Bruce left are not included in those accounts. It's common knowledge that Whelan has been looking for a buyer but that's more to do with him wanting to wind down and there being no successor to him.

Big rumour from my Latics mates is that Whelan is looking for a buyer.
He's made it known that he'd be open to offers, but no one has come forward as of yet.

It's no bloody wonder no ones come forward.

TBH I heard that some time ago and it comes as no real surprise to me or to anyone for that matter.

He realises his ship is sinking - a fact which even the most hardcore Latics fans have realised - and is getting into his lifeboat.

I have a feeling it won't be too distant in the future that DW buys back Wigan RL.

It would be nice of Whelan were so desperate he had to sell the stadium to Lenegan, then we could turn it into are true home and we could dictate to the Latics when they play there league 1 matches.

Most of my Latics mates are lifers and pine for the days when they went on day trips to Bournemouth and Walsall.
They are as pished off as Wigan fans by the newcomers. One of the lads used to stand next to me at Central Park having been to Springfield Park the day before.

God help us if he gets his hands on us again!

That isn't going to happen.

[urlhttp://www.football365.com/story/0,17033,8708_5384578,00.html[/url

"From August 1 this ground is going to be called the DW Stadium and I am placing the ownership into the hands of Wigan Athletic. That will take place over the next four to six weeks."

So it isn't a true groundshare Rogues?
Genuinely thought that was set in stone from the off with the council.

Apologies. I'm getting my dates mixed up. It was Jan 09 Palacios left not 08 wasn't it.

You'd think they would make a profit in the next set of accounts then.

I really don't know. I was surprised when I read that.

Does it make any difference to Wigan RLFC as the article states they still have a 50 year lease at the stadium.

If Whelan pulls out then I suppose all it would mean is that Wigan Athletic would have something to borrow money against.

You're right, it shouldn't make much, if any difference to us.
Just thinking I might owe my Latics mates an apology

Whelan must be getting really worried now by their lack of support
as it would appear that the novelty factor of being in the Premiership has well and truely worn off.
I know yesterday was an away game but The Daily Express today reported that they had 376 Fans at Everton !
Ok its more expensive to watch than Rugby but thats shocking by anyones standards!
Its so so sad !

Looking at that, where the hell is football going?

Aresnal Debts - £416m
Turnover £222.5m

Chelsea Debts - £701m
Turnover £213.6m

Liverpool Debts - £280m
Turnover £159m

United Debts - £699m
Turnover £256.2m

Latics Debts - £66.4m
Turnover - £43m

Did you notice that the Turnover breakdown wasn't listed for Latics unlike other clubs? Look at Bolton to compare:



Other than Whelan's backing & SKY money of approx £30m, Latics only other income would be about £5m Gate & Match Day (There crowds are lower than Bolton's). Plus a bit of Corporate & Sponsorship.

Can only see that debt grow to over £100m in the next couple of years, if they get relegated then what was it all for, and where do they go???? No wonder he won't open his £70m warchest.

Cheapest season ticket in the division and prices frozen for three consecutive seasons. This is the first year since Whelan took ovcer that Latics' season ticket sales haven't increased on the previous season.
Still don't think they'll go down despite what some of the loyal Latics fans will tell you. That's nothing to do with Latics but more due to Burnley, Birmingham, Blackburn, Portsmouth, Hull , Wolves and Bolton.

I read somewhere not long ago that Plastics had reduced their debt since those accounts were published - mainly due to offloading players and not splashing out on replacements. That can only go on for so long until their club is too weak to stay in the Prem.

My own feeling is that Whelan is looking to reduce their debt to zero and bail out ASAP. Wouldn't be surprised to see DW Sports replacing Mecca Bingo next season too...

I'm getting very worried about all this talk about Whelan coming back to Wigan.

It's not as far-fetched as some people might think!! If I could get odds at a bookies I'd stick on Whelan being owner again in the next 12 months

Please stop!

i cant believe some of you actually would want the kaiser back.
my point of view as a latics fan is that whelans lost intrest,hes seen the clubs support drop as a lot of the plastics have lost intrest after the prem noveltys worn off,even though season tickets are great value the club have got thier matchday pricind drastically wrong it was 28 pound for the utd game and 14 pound for kids
basically whelan has sold off all the clubs best players to reduce the clubs debt{by the way this debt isnt that crippling as its intrest free because its basically the money the club owes whelan}and hes no longer prepared to spend the money thats needed too see the club operate at premiership level.