[iFor the Latics hating rugby fans you can stop trying to rewrite history. You can look at the archives at Wigan town hall or the Wigan Evening Post to see the JJB Stadium was under construction for Wigan Athletic and Orrell RU at the time Wigan Warriors were selling Central Park to TESCO, and were on the verge of moving to the Reebok Stadium.

It is also a small gesture to the more bitter rugby fans to keep them happy while still acknowledging the DW stadium is predominantly for Latics.
Who cares about attendances its what matters on the pitch and Wigan Warriors are not doing the town proud with its rugby performances.

When Wigan Warriors were relegated in the early 80's their attendances dropped to the 4,000 mark.
Wigan Athletics attendances have gradualy increased from 1,500 to 11,500 in the Championship.
That is now 4 years ago, the home support at Latics has increased by a further 4,000 taking it to 15,000, that is in line with the rate of growth in pre Premiership years.[/i

Obama would be proud of such a speech......

He can throw around all the figures he wants. The simple fact is that Wigan RL has been a key part of British rugby league for over a century. Decade after decade, it's done the town proud with its collection of trophies, and all the attendant publicity this has brought.

At the very, very tail-end of that story, Latics have emerged from anonymity to make a minor splash in football. Yes they're in the top league. But non too impressively. Ask anyone in the UK which sport they associate with Wigan - most will mention football, but only in the same breath as rugby league. Many will simply say rugby league. None will say football without making any reference at all to rugby league. Latics don't even dominate sport in their little home town, never mind at any other level. And they're supposed to be a Premiership side. No wonder they're regarded in so many football quarters as a bunch of jumped-up nobodies who purchased their place at the top table.

I too am suspicious about this olive branch that Whelan has offered. But at the end of the day, maybe he's just being pragmatic. Despite all the confident predictions (born of national newspaper-fed delusion that football is the main thing on everyone's mind) that Wigan RL will cease to be while Latics continue an inexorable rise, Dave Whelan clearly recognises that the opposite is true. He doesn't want to alienate the significant group of Wigan sports fans who he soon may be relying on to keep the JJB turnstiles clicking.

At the end of the day, it probably bolis down to him wanting to maximise the publicity surrounding the rebranding of the stadium. I can't think of anyone else alive who is associated to either club who would attract a few journalists to take snaps of the ribbon being cut.

keith mills does a lot for the club.

he used to be the guy who took on the kicking tee when faz was here, and would get in line behind him going "right a bit, left a bit"...he helped our kickers a lot.
hes a past player, and since retiring has worked in the lotto shop.

hes now taken over gordon harrisons (dont say you didnt know him either) duties as main man running the lotto agents, canvassing for lotto entries, etc, as well as taking over doing the half time golden gamble draw.

keith and his well run unsung hero agents bring in a lot of revenue for the club.

he is an unsung legend

Every club has honest, hard-working employees like Keith, but surely stands should be named after stars of international renown? That's where Latics are going to come unstuck.

Very true

well i reckon to balance things up he should name one after a football legend.

how does the GEORGE BEST stand sound?

that'll wind the latics fans up to snapping point

Name it after a real Wigan legend....'The Brian Rouse Stand' icon_wink.gif



sorry if the spellings wrong !!

They should name it the "footi is ded gud and rugbi is krap" stand, so that it rings a real bell with most Latics fans.