And all that through a recession. Amazing really!

Aquaducts... and its safe to walk the streets..

Sorry the silliness of this thread drove me to it!

IS IT APRIL 1ST.....???????

without IFL we would most likely be in a state worse than Bradford at their lowest point.

The idea IL is taking money out to fund Oxford is a nonstarter. It would be transparent on the books if he was.

However if these transfer fees for Gleeson and the rest you mention in total come close to what we got for Sam Tomkins alone IL has been ripped off.

IL did [inot[/i buy Edge Hall Road either. Dave Whelan did when he took over Orrell RU and it was turned over to Wigan as the training ground before IL bought the club. It came with the club when IL bought it.

As it is the only tangible asset the club has that I am aware of (since we rent the DW) the fact Wigan RL were given it by Whelan is proably a big reason IL thought the purchase of the club viable.

As to Central Park academy if money from transfers is being used to fund that then I think that is a legitimate complaint from the fans.

What has Eric Pollard ever done for us ?

No wonder it has now come to silly sayings!

We are in a better position as a club than I can ever remember. We had more trophies in our halcyon days but I don't think the club has ever been as well run as now.

I'm around IL's age and he will have seen the trophies and the disasters I have.
Believe me these are very good times we are experiencing now, yes even only four days after being knocked out of the Cup.

He reads this forum and must be absolutely bloody staggered by what's being written here. Winning trophies, making profits, a youth development system that is as good as any and better than most. IL's done a great job at Wigan and I hope he continues for many years to come.

The Internet has provided some wonderful creativity, opportunities and knowledge sharing but it has also given a worldwide forum for people you would leave a full pint behind in the pub to avoid having to listento them.

I suppose it's a price worth paying but sometimes it doesn't feel like it.

Sorry to be picky Dave but if he bought the club with Edge Hall/Orrell in the deal then Wigan RL were not "Given it by Whelan"? He did actually Buy it, just from DW not Orrell etc. themselves.
I would think whatever developments "The Club" have made since end of 2007 in terms of investing in upgrading & Developing Orrell should be placed as credits to IL. I agree the foresight to buy it in the first place should go down to DW however that particular aquisition came about (And Im not too sure the members of Orrell RUFC would agree it was done in an amicable way). IL still managed to make sure that it came as part of the deal to buy Wigan RL. So for that he has to be given credit?
Also in terms of central Park academy I'm pretty sure I wouldn't be the only one who doesnt completely understand how this is funded and what benefits it gives back to Wigan RL alone (Not withstanding the community & Social benefits which over the last couple of months I've had direct use of).
It would be interesting to see facts of this operation such as :-
Initial cost (And was it funded solely by Wigan RL or was their some joint deal as I suspect with Wigan Council?)
Running costs
Profit return
What other added on benefits it provides i.e. player welfare/education etc. for Wigan RL.

Now Im pretty sure you'll be amazed to learn that I'm not totally in agreement with IL's recruitment policy in all areas and certainly the potential departure of say a Taylor or Charnley would in my mind leave a lot of unanswered questions.
However
I still think "IMO" that he's got most of the Big decision right and on the whole his overall Ethos/policies for the club, its players with regards to transfers etc seem to be working.
Will it be always be plain sailing? I doubt it and I'm certain there will be a few troughs in the future under his tenure however to look at the club as a Whole and see its transformation from 2007 to 2014 I think he's done a very good job.

Who is Eric Pollard ?

Bring Mo back!

I've heard rumours he's giving half our squad to Oxford United.

Fattest (Dudson) goes in goal.

I really do despair some times..... People should look at the mess some other clubs are in, and go support them if they want a really good moan.... Am I a happy clapper, no, I'm a realist...... Mods, I removed bad word...

We won the double last season. What the is there to moan about?

What a beaut of a thread this is.


You can tell we have lost a game....