Is it flat enough? How much would the land cost? It's taking on a multi-million pound project and in the current recession it's hardly a good idea.

you have 50 years to slowly develop so there is no rush, develop a nice 20,000 seater with a better atmosphere and because it's a RL stadium you'd have some standing terrace instead of an all seater.

We dont mate........5-10 max depending on who buys the shatics id say....mark my words we will be forced out

We could give the land at edge hall road to TESCO in exchange for the store they own in Wigan town centre and then build a stadium on there. Plenty room and a good location.

but surely Wigans finances are in great shape and if for example you started everything tomorrow, (consultations, acquiring land, finding the contractors, development and build) realistically it would take 5 years maximum.

we`ll all have to get some euro millions lucky dips like the old couple from bolton

Wake up for god sake!

Please forgive my predictable cynisim, but well said andy!
And I have yet to be convinced that IL is not an employee/partner of whelan.

A possibility occurs to me. Although the idea of developing Edge Hall Road as a ground for Wigan RLFC is a non starter as it could never be developed enough for it to meet required standards for SL there could be some scope for making the neccessary repairs to terracing that the ground needs in order to make all areas usable.

I think everyone agrees that Latics will be relegated sooner or later and that their crowds and income would fall considerably as a result and that they would then (without Whelan) drop down the leagues. Should this result in the JJB becoming too much of a financial burden for them it would suit them better to play in a smaller ground.

Could we then offer them a swap with them moving to an Edge Hall Road ground in a good state of repair that would be of adequate size for a League 1/ League 2 club as Latics were pre-Whelan. We could then take ownership of the JJB as we would surely be able to go it alone and would own our own ground. Even if we had to pay something as part of the deal it would surely be easier and cheaper than building a new ground from scratch.

Would this be a viable option? I would be interested to know what other people think of this idea

Break clauses in the lease are (as far as i know) options to the tenant rather than the Landlord....the landlord can only turf you out in the interim on the grounds of a fundamental breach of your Lease terms.....like trashing the place or persistently failing to come up with the rent etc...

Eventually someone will buy the Latics from Whelan, but they'll inherit the same obligations as Landlord.....they can't come in and start varying the terms of the deal.

Also someone said earlier that they'd heard that the our terms were very favourable......something I also have heard....in fact it is not in our interests to see the football club relegated (although that is bound to happen eventually) because under the deal it is they who have to stump up the lion's share of the running costs ....for as long as they have the Premiership cash rolling in....so Latics go down, our costs go up !

Last one on the catering/beer /pie sales....I don't know for sure but I think neither club get anything from those sales!......It is or was Central Catering who bought the rights to sell food and drink in the stadium....they pay Whelco a wad of cash for the rights (i.e. Whelan's personal back pocket) and what they make is theirs ...

I have been talking about the idea of a new stadium lately. But when our own chairman and 90% of our fans are instantly dismissive of the idea before even giving it the slightest amount of thought, what chance does it stand? Surely now is the perfect time for some thought to go into it, if you don't ask you don't get.

It would certainly have the backing of the entire Wigan public - we'd love our own 'home' and I'm guessing most Plastics fans would be happy to have the JJB to themselves. Look at LSV - an EIGHTY THREE MILLION POUND facility!! FFS you can have a decent 25,000 stadium for under £40m (KC £44m, JJB £30m, Swansea £27m, Doncaster £20m, HJ £12m). Yes it's a lot of money in times of financial uncertainty, but if enough people make noise maybe the council will sit up and listen?

How could it be funded?

Sell off the Orrell site for building land - very poor time to do this, I know.
Stadium naming rights for 10 years.
WMBC funding.
IL personal cash
Incorporate Community Leisure Centre, new international swimming pool for Wigan (Sport England grant?).

I've always thought that Marus Bridge would be a good option.

We all want a proper spiritual home but it will never happen because people don't take it seriously enough. Maybe it won't happen soon, but if we look to the future it could be a reality in 10 years time...

Or maybe I'll just keep buying my Euromillions ticket

I doubt we'll have a new stadium any time soon (next 20+ years). It's just something you have to accept.

Just thought I'd throw my twopenneth in here in regards to the Latics fans spitting their dummies out.

How laughable. If it weren't for Wigan Rugby, nobody would care about Latics in the first place. The "Town famous for its Rugby League is now famous for its ascent up the Football League" story was every cliche loving Journo's wet dream. They became everyone's 'Second team' and attracted a lot of new supporters over the last decade, mostly from St Helens who felt it was some form of poke in the eye to Wigan Rugby to support the Latics.

Now that the wheels have fell off the bandwagon, they are shown up for what they really are; AN other club from small town England (no disrespect) who have their five minutes in the sun and they slowly descend back into their rightful place in the sporting world, with away games at Hartlepool and Grimsby. No different from Oldham, Bradford, Ipswich et al and, presumably, Hull and Burnley.

Latics should be grateful for the 'leg up' the Headlines that sharing a town - and stadium - with Wigan Rugby League Club has given them.

Not only should they name a Stand after a Legend, Boston, in honour of this, they should have Andy Gregory Aisle and Shaun Edwards Section; Farrel's Bar and Rads' Programme Stall. And. maybe, one day, Steve Bruce or Paul Jewell could have a Urinal named after them in honour of their footballing achievements.

Why exactly have the wheels fell off for Wigan Athletic?

For DW to sell Latics, someones got to buy it and to buy it as an investment, one that will give a financial return. There are no more footballing sugar daddies about, DW included as he's obviously winding down and doing what you'd expect him to do, protect his own financial interests. Apart from the Sky money (which Latics will almost certainly be using to fund wages and transfers) what other income is there at Latics? Large crowds - no (upper Championship level at best). Shirt sales - no, see crowds. European presence - no. Overseas following (ie Asia) - no. Pooles pies - possibly. Looking at the recent football club sales they all have had something to offer. The latest being City with their stadium and more importantly a large and loyal fan base, another bonus is their close proximity to Utd. I just can't see Latics being a viable proposition especially in todays market.