So how do you think it should be funded?

To be honest I would just be really uncomfortable with the fact that the public are being asked in the first place and would sooner have no statue at all.

The article also seems to suggest that the statue will be constructed anyway, its as if funding has been in place and then suddenly cut and now they are asking for public donation's.

Local businesses and the club.

Most statues are funded by charity donations.

Perfect recent example;

rlhttps://www.wigantoday.net/news/war-memorial-restored-to-former-glory-1-6321634rl

I have to admit, and this might be controversial for some, that i don't really want a statue of BB. Now before i start let me say that i like and respect the great man. He's a club legend and for many people he's one of the finest players we've ever seen. On top of that i agree he's one of nicest people going and a true gent.

Having said that however i think he's had a lot of respect paid to him by the club/town already. He's had the honour of having two stands named after him, he's one of only 11 hall of fame members and i also think he's had the honour of leading the side out at Wembley on a couple of occasions.

Whilst he's undoubtedly a worthy candidate and i don't/wouldn't begrudge him getting more praise i would like to see more given to other legends.

Wigan Warriors CF is the clubs very own charity.

Its fairly common for local businesses to contribute to such projects too.

Love the idea of a statue and think it should have been done years ago but the way in which it is funded is important as is public consultation.

I thought the same thing regarding Boston already having been honoured and there being plenty of other legends. Having spoken to my granddad about Boston he said he was obviously good but also a player who turned up when he wanted and wasn't the most professional as evidenced by his weight gain later in his career. This is second hand info which i may not have relayed entirely accurately but we did only win one league title while Boston was with us despite his try scoring exploits.

Obviously I've not seen these players but looking at the history Jim Sullivan seems deserving of more recognition than he's received given he has no stands or statues i'm aware of but instrumental in creating winning culture at the club.

Well, there's a first time for everything I suppose. But I didn't think I'd ever see the day, even on a Wigan RL message board, when a Wigan fan would badmouth Billy Boston.

Some people just want and desire to be controversial. Obvious troll is obvious.

I certainly wouldn't want anyone to think I was 'bad mouthing'the great man. He's a club legend who deserves to be revered.

I just think there might be others who are equally deserving. My personal choice would be Edwards. A Wigan lad who went on to become the games most decorated player. When you look at his defining characteristics of hard work, self sacrifice and sheer determination/will to succeed then, for me, he's deserving of a statue

On top of that I see his RU stuff as an added bonus as it speaks volumes about how good we are at Rugby in Wigan. The fact we can produce so many talented players & coaches who have/ are dominating both codes is something to me proud of.

Weight gain and only turning up when he wanted to? That's your Granddads memory of Billy Boston?

Don't want to appear disrespectful to your Granddad but if that's his abiding memory, then he must have had a hard life.

He's not a bitter blue Latics fan is he?

I do think that the reporting so far make it appear that the driver behind the the appeal is the sculptor himself, looking for a commission.

I don't know if this is the case, or who in fact first proposed the idea.

Either way, public donation is I reckon, the best way to go.

If public donation is the way to go then the public should really have been involved from the beginning.

According to Greg Farrimond the statue will be situated in the town centre next year.

I've got no problem rummaging through the mothballs in the wallet to help move this on, my issue is that (regardless of whether the club support it or not - imagine the uproar if they'd said "no"icon_wink.gif the whole enterprise seems a bit amateurish.
It's often the case that public money is used for this sort of thing. I'm not sure where the money for the Wembley statue is coming from for example, but I'm pretty sure it won't be (all) the RFL.

Is the Wembley statue the one where the public could vote on which player's were to be included?

From experience a lack of consultation is likely to divide opinion and support which is a real shame.

Yes, the group statue, which includes Billy, was chosen. It's due to be unveiled at this year's CC final.
Although if you look at some of the comments from some swivel-eyed loons that insist Wembley is [ionly[/i a wendy-ball stadium, I'll not be surprised if it's vandalised soon after.
Contrast the organisation & backing of the Wembley statue with the Wigan one & there really is no comparison.