By all accounts he tried to buy the club, but couldn't afford it. If he's moved onto plan B and buying the assets then so be it. He's got to do what's right for us.

I suppose I should’ve clarified it doesn’t read well to me who has an interest in wanting both my clubs to thrive. I don’t think the stadium, with all that needs doing to it is good for either club to outright own at the moment when there’s no revenue streams for it. I also don’t think either club can thrive without the other’s economic input.

But the animosity is all the fault of Latics fans?

Non-contrarians will know what I said.

I genuinely don't want Latics to go under, but it's very hard at the min to feel much sympathy or empathy towards a good section of their fan base. There's a real chip on their shoulders when it comes to the rugby club - mostly because of a poor comment made by Maurice over 30 years ago (talk about holding a grudge).

As soon as IL mentioned he wanted to unite both the club's he was attacked by a good % of the football fan base simply because of his connection with us.

Let's look at the situation with Latics - sold down the river by their owner's, imo harshly dealt with by the EFL, forced to sell some key long term prospects and that's before we even talk about them running at a loss. Now a local lad, with great connections in football and a history of successfully investing in youth development comes along, but he's rejected simply because he also runs (successfully I might add) the town's rugby team. You literally couldn't find a more prefect owner, or a more stupid reason to not want him.

IL's bid fails so he then tries to buy the stadium, as like I said earlier he'd be a fool to not try, but he's treated like the devil for doing so. Why is it ok for Latics to own the stadium and for us to rent and not the other way around? Why should we be left at the mercy of a football club that seem to be on their way out? As with most dealings with that part of the town everything has to be WAFC first and there's no room for little or anything else.

There won't be any unity until the football mob take the massive chip off their shoulders. God knows IL has thrown a few olive branches their way since he bought us.

According to reports not confirmed the stadium is up for sale at 2.5 million and Euxton for half a million the football club for a £1 with 5 million to pay.

The Euxton ground has been sold to Preston separately.

The club, stadium, chippy and Christopher Park training ground are what's on offer.

Lenegan wanted to buy the ground but was turned down
[[urlhttps://www.wigantoday.net/sport/rugby-league/dw-stadium-wont-be-sold-separate-wigan-athletic-2954435?itm_source=ply-api[/url

I know what you're saying and I agree, there will never be harmony but the way you said "so long as Wigan Athletic are there" made it sound like you're blaming them for it all. If you weren't then fair enough. As I said I know plenty of people who hate Latics.

Did we not do similar when Whelan first stepped in to try and buy Wigan rugby?

It looks like Latics will retain the stadium by the looks of it after the press conference this morning anyway. Both clubs have a vocal minority who disregard the other, both founded on some what I would call an acceptable basis but it needs those to be put aside. The stadium is going to be a white elephant whoever continues to own it unless some serious money is ploughed into it. I don’t blame Lenagan for trying to get the DW, it’s business but I don’t believe he did it for any other benefit than himself wrapped up in shroud of cherry and white to cover his motives. Once Orrell gets sold down the line we will actually have less tangible assets on the balance sheet now we lease Robin Park.

I agree that it cuts both ways.

From what i recall, i think IL was quite a successful chairman of a smaller, lower division, football club...

I was totally indifferent to latics, until i saw pics of their "fans", "celebrating", outside BWFC last year when the Wanderers were struggling...

Great news that we are not going to end up with a stadium when you realistically think about it. As long as our new agreement is similar to the old one then we are laughing.

Absolutely.

Loses money
Currently income levels at zero
When income does start again it is at best 50% (no food or drink sales) but with much much higher costs

Unless we can sell sponsorship for about £10m a year then we'd be losing it hand over fist.

Yes

It might be me being a bit thick here, but I genuinely don’t see what IL has done wrong? The vitriol directed at him online is astounding. The vitriol directed towards Lisa Nandy MP is also laughable, she was literally at the stadium pleeing for people to get behind and donate to the club yet is labelled as someone who doesn’t care!

I get the impression that the DW stadium loses money. Has anybody any real facts about how much this is, even when there's both football and rugby going on?
It's a bit concerning that a stadium that is only just of 20 years of age, and only a small number of years older than the HJS, loses what is perceived to be a large sum each year. We were all led to believe that new stadiums were the way forward, perhaps this turns out not quite to be the case.

The stadium being a loss-maker, especially with two large tenants, doesn't really make any sense given other clubs cite their stadia as being fundamental (outside Covid time) to their financial stability.

Around 1.2 million per year

Stadiums need to be used on a regular (if not daily basis). You need to look at other clubs to see where income is generated in addition to match day revenue: On site hotel. Conference Centre (meeting rooms for hire). Concerts. Stadium naming rights. https://www.football-stadiums.co.uk/art ... ake-money/

Stadiums need to be used on a regular (if not daily basis). You need to look at other clubs to see where income is generated in addition to match day revenue: On site hotel. Conference Centre (meeting rooms for hire). Concerts. Stadium naming rights. https://www.football-stadiums.co.uk/art ... ake-money/

Is the DW really empty during the week and evenings? At the least there was that famous wedding there...
Is there for some reason a lesser market for functions than in Warrington or St Helens?

A friend of mine's step-daughter. He's never lived it down.

Quote ="MattyB"Stadiums need to be used on a regular (if not daily basis). You need to look at other clubs to see where income is generated in addition to match day revenue: On site hotel. Conference Centre (meeting rooms for hire). Concerts. Stadium naming rights. https://www.football-stadiums.co.uk/art ... ake-money/'" It's no longer the all singing all dancing stadium/facility that it once was. Plenty of stadiums in the area have had face lifts or been built since this was along with places like Hotel Football that gives you a backdrop of Old Trafford. Nothing a bit of TLC probably wouldn't cure, but I'm not sure the money is there.

Quote ="MattyB"Stadiums need to be used on a regular (if not daily basis). You need to look at other clubs to see where income is generated in addition to match day revenue: On site hotel. Conference Centre (meeting rooms for hire). Concerts. Stadium naming rights. https://www.football-stadiums.co.uk/art ... ake-money/'" It's no longer the all singing all dancing stadium/facility that it once was. Plenty of stadiums in the area have had face lifts or been built since this was along with places like Hotel Football that gives you a backdrop of Old Trafford. Nothing a bit of TLC probably wouldn't cure, but I'm not sure the money is there.

best atmosphere ever in the same stand as saints fans