Latics have hated Bolton for years, we just think they're a bit of s##t on our shoes, just as Utd look down on us. Founder members of the football league, and 50odd years in the top flight, only 11 clubs can better that. If Wigan take 20-30000 on their European tour then I will be suprised. They can't even bring 2-3000 to the reebok.

Wigan can have their day in the sun and fair play because its whats sport is all about but its not exactly a fairy tale. Whelan has bankrolled them up there, make no mistake. £70m+ in debt.

Anyone wanting to follow their business model should close the door on their way out.

Al tel thi what Mattwom thi cud be reet , dust know dem Wigginers il be inviting mi dewn ta ther place toneet fer a drink

i cawt keep this up , am soundin lika a RastaLeyther

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On inspection Wigan Athletic reported a net profit of £4.3m for the financial year ending on 31 May 2012 with a significant increase in turnover also.

The club's debt, including borrowings and loans from chairman Dave Whelan and his family, reduced to £20.5m from £72.2m, £48m of which was converted into equity.

By increasing turnover and controlling costs the club is continuing to progress to a break-even operating position which all football clubs are aspiring to but many are finding it difficult for obvious reasons.

It's very rare in modern day sport not just football to be able to get those sort of fincial results and for a club that have always relied on a White Knight to balance the books and to put money in, it's refreshing to see them restructure the buisness model last few years and also maintain relative success with yesterday's cup win a cherry on the cake for them I'd say.

In summary it demonstrates and gives great hope to me that the right people likeminded with common goals working hard behind the scenes in every department of a professional structure can get a small town team to buy into its vision and can get reflective success against all the odds. To be able to produce the results they have on and off the pitch in recent years deserves a big well done I'd say

Ok so all we need to do is find someone who will tip up millions go get us to the top flight and buys us a stadium.

Once steady he then converts (sic 'writes off') that money he's spent into shares.

Good luck with that one.

1. You need a Dave Whelan and £70m to do what Wigan Atheletic have done. Since the early 90's he has been the white knight you said they didn't have/need. You don't get into the premier league on crowds of 6000 without a huge influx of cash. If Dave Whelan hit bad times as Arthur Thomas did, then they'd have ended up in the mire too.

2. Without a Dave Whelan providing that £70m platform the good business practise you championed as an example for us is irrelevant because without the £70m it would not have happened in the first place.

3. We do need a stadium to do what he has done because of the secondary spend income. Look at their corporate and commercial income and revenues. He is in control of that, we aren't. That helps him and his business model more than we could ever wish.

4. If Wigan hadn't sold 20odd million quids worth of players they would have made another loss.

We can go on all day about it. Well, we cant because I've better things to do than spend all day on here. Whilst there are many good achievements made by them, following their business model isn't one of them.

Well here`s hoping the Latics get relegated and Bolton win both games against them next year.

It was like when we won the cup in 71.
They deserved it as we also did.
They look like going down now nothing but a miracle win at Aresenal Tuesday can save them, can't see it happening beating a top 5 team twice in 3 days is impossible almost!

No if buts maybes or aunties uncles about it. There's nowt wrong with admitting it doesn't work. We've all done it.

Whelan has done well for Wigan but he's had to spend 15 years tipping up. We can't do that.

I think we all agree on that mate.