There seems to have been massive investment off the field to strengthen the infrastructure of the club but we’re crying out for a major upgrade in the 1st team squad. Last night against Saints typified what Lam is up against. Whilst Smithies and Partington were very good in their spells, they only had the likes of Navarette, Isa, Hankinson around them for support. We’re absolutely desperate for at least 2 props.

Agreed completely. It’s a balancing act between upgrading the infrastructure whilst also steadily upgrading the playing squad, something which every club ought to be doing every season to stay competitive. I darent say the scales tipped over to infrastructure rather than playing squad in recent seasons which undoubtedly did pay off - at the time.

I wonder if we’ve rested on our laurels because of the success we had under SW and overlooked the playing squad (to an extent) in favour of upgrading off the field. That’s pure speculation and admittedly I have no idea what goes on or is going on behind the scenes at Wigan but it seems to me to be a plausible explanation.

I’d say you’re onto something,the last few years the club has only had to look to Orrell and the academy for an almost ready made player,at present Smithies aside the well has perhaps dried up certainly in the positions that need addressing.

As you say mere speculation of course

I’m pleased the club is investing in the infrastructure to be honest, you can’t build a house on sand and hopefully we’ll have the foundation for success for years to come.
Just my opinion but I’d say the club had a recruitment and retention policy that was highly successful for 10 years. We brought home grown talent through to the first team whilst allowing top players to leave when the opted to do so. That, supported by players returning and project signings took us to great success with repeated finals and trophies in the cabinet. That meant that nobody can really argue that the policy wasn’t working.

The problem is that if you stretch an elastic band far enough, it will eventually snap. I’d say we’re at that snapping point and we desperately need to release the pressure and bring in some real quality, especially in the forwards.

What’s the deal we have for renting Robin Park? Are we still selling Orrell? If so all this ‘investment’ off the field means we’ll own less assets than we do now. Not really sure how selling a few extra pies and merchandise will make us cash rich going forward.

My understanding was that we bought Robin Park.

I think that’s a fair assessment to be honest and one I’d agree with too

Much easier to identify and buy 1 or 2 players every couple of years when needed than it is to have to go out and buy 6/7/8 every year which only stay for 12/18 months and then do the same thing because you haven't got the infrastructure or youth system.
I wrote end of last year and early this that for the first time in 10+ years we had the balance/quality wrong and too many had been retained, but I'd rather it be this way than the other.

PS

someone posted a week or so ago about Powell that "Back in the day" Wigan wouldn't have accepted his level and gone out and bought someone to replace them.
Said this was what Wigan would have done a decade or so ago, a thinly veiled dig at leneghan.
I guess they must have forgotten signing Wayne Godwin, Shane Millard etc.

The game is at total sham. I stopped going to games around 2011 is mainly because the players are just basic average. There used to be top players like A Farrell, Connolly and Robinson and they got replaced with players like Gelling, Hankinson and Navarette! Every team is capable of beating eachover. I think the salary cap has finally killed off was once a good competition.

Thanks. If we own the freehold and the land etc. Then fair enough I’ve no issues with having an asset on the books but I’ve only found that we’ll take over the lease which will save the council about £215k a year. If we don’t own it, to what purpose can IL sell us on if we don’t have anything to actually sell on as an arm of the council seem to be taking over the running of Central Park?

I was under the impression it was rented. So that would mean we would have:

DW - Rent
Robin Park Arena - Rent
Town Centre Shop - Rent

Whereas last year we had:

Orrell - owned
Hilton Street properties - owned
Central Park School - Rent, moved.

As far as I can see.... no assets, other than the playing squad (contractors).

Happy to be proven wrong about Robin Park (hope I am).

your right pal, was saying to my dad last night as the game how much saints have got it right, great stadium, great service were pinging notes into the till left right and centre all going into their pockets, their academy play there also. We are missing a trick so so much with the renting of a stadium and is costing the club a fortune in lost revenue.

It always makes me laugh when you get the “you don’t need to own a stadium” brigade banging out nonsense,if nothing else a stadium is a huge asset,one that as you say contributes to the coffers of a club,as you say you could have the ladies playing,the kids all there playing under the one roof.

As it stands all Wigan own is gym equipment and a few tackle bags

I think the rent is a small amount as we don't see a penny from the food or alcohol stalls