Not looking good for the Wigan based firm: news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7838400.stm

Not looking good for the Wigan based firm: news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7838400.stm

No it'll go. Be interesting to see what happens with the stadium name.

I think of more concern is the poor blighters employed there

True.

"Rats are always the first to leave a sinking ship"

I'm glad our contract with JJB Sports has come to an end before this has come to light.

At the same time, it's not nice for those people who are employed by the company and the fact that it is a Wigan based business which is in the news for struggling. I certainly hope it doesn't crumble to its foundations.

They expanded quickly in a declining market, no coincidence that Whelan jumped ship.

It's going to be a tough couple of years economically, unemployment is rising every day, not far off 3mil with the potential for race riots.

I'd blame a lot of it on Whelan's miss management. You only need to look at how many shops he opened in such a close proximity to each other e.g. at one time JJB had a store at the soccer dome, one at Robin Park and two in the town centre! I just can't see how that would make financial success.

Not to mention his stores became a breeding ground for Chav clothes. They should have stuck more to the specialist sports wear & equipment instead of selling the latest Chav fashions

Very true, as well as Chav clothes it sells a lot of cheap tat imo.

Sadly as ever the people who made all the decisions that sent JJB on a downwards spiral will walk away with a nice pay off while those who will lose there job through no fault of there own will get peanuts.

I dont think it helped with the cheap e they sell to like LA Gear and all the dodgy other stuff that Whelan no doubt signed stupid deals with before he jumped. JD Sports profits have risen so it shows how JJB has gone wrong somewhere.

Could be extremely bad news for the local area if JJB went under. Hopefully with the amount of prime retail land it occupys not to mention it's health club-soccer dome business, JJB or part of it would be worth saving for someone.

IMO JJB has failed to move with the times and is now struggling to win the budget market (soocer sports) and the lucrative posh chav market (JD Sports). Unless it modernises and improves its image it could be the end for another big high street name.

Wouldn't be surprised to see DW buy it back at some point. Sold high, buy back cheap the climates perfect for it. I understand part of his business is now focussed on buying high street type property with income potential.

Makes you wonder whats being going on behind the scenes with JJB. They seem to have a nack of having bad relationships with suppliers/sports companies.

The reason that they are not selling Wigans shirts in 2009 is not to do with the fact that they are no longer sponsoring Wigan Warriors but that they are currently involved in a legal battle with Kooga.

Another well known sports company will be stocking the kit for 2009.

I'm pretty sure Mr Whelan now owns that successful part of the JJB empire again? He bought it back at a fraction of what he sold for IIRC late last year.

Soccer dome is owned by power league now.