A report in todays Express headed Whelan ready to write off £50million quotes Whelan as saying. " I want this club (Latics) to be in the best shape it can be. So I am turning the clubs £50 million of debt into equity. I am effectively giving the stadium to the club".

What are the implications of this to us? Can anyone shed any light on this for me? Is it as was?

He's giving us a 50 year lease on the ground.

Probably not much. I think it's now pretty clear to all concerned that Latics needs us at the DW.

He's writing off the £50m as he knows he hasn't got a snowball's chance in hell of recouping that sort of money should he sell Pathetic. Mind you who'd buy them anyway, even with no debt?

Noone recoups money in football

he was on Sky Sport over the crimbo period talking about Latics, and debts.

he said he wouldnt leave his family with the debts Latics had run up, and would sell the club to save them the grief.

is this step 1 of him selling the club?...........more likely to get a buyer with no debts attached, and the longer he stays owner , the debts will build up again, as it would with any owner.
so it seems likely hes now looking to sell latics cheaply..........but keep the stadium?

good riddance.

This "handing over the ground to the latics" has been taking an awful long time. I'm sure he announced it last year, or maybe the year before, or was it the one before that?

Maybe he'll actually do it next year, or the year after. The cynic in me says he trots that line out every now and again to remind the dwindling latics faithful that they are where they are because of him and him alone, so be bloody thankfull!

All hail Dave (and repeat until indoctrinated).