It could also be for tax reasons. There is one thing for certain, the ground needs money spending on it. The South Stand bar has had no heating for quite a while which makes the fact that it is sponsored by Heatable laughable.

I find it quite amusing that some of the Latics knuckle-draggers on Twitter didn't realise this was always going to happen and are now behaving as if it's some kind of imposition.

A succession of bad owners condemned their club to oblivion. They were only saved by a major shareholder in Wigan Warriors, the same guy who was already in talks to take over the rugby club entirely. Possibly he'd have made a move for the football club as well at some point, but unlike Whelan, his focus was on the rugby. It's not inconceivable that he only moved for Latics when he did because he had no choice as they were about to go under and take the stadium with them.

They really have no claim on anything. And yet they now try to assert some kind of moral right to own the Brick (which they only actually owned for a very short time, during which period they did nothing to fix its many problems and continued to lay the law down to the rugby). Talk about Cloud Cuckoo Land.

they where fortunate to be saved at the near end, by a fella who wanted/needed to secure the stadium, will run them sustainably and give them equal parts to play at said stadium.
Yet he's being called every name under the sun.

They had - and still have - absolutely nothing else to offer any other parties. Its why no sod else even sniffed at them on their death bed.

They're absolutely laughable. But then, they always have been

Most of their fans are good people and I have no issue with them or the club, but there are a group of "Entitleds" who think it is their right to watch L1 football at a fraction of the price other clubs charge, and not only watch it for next to nowt, but have a team packed full of top notch players running away with the league and have the owner write cheques to cover this deficit, along with charging Wigan Warriors over £1m a year just to use the stadium on match days.

I'm guessing now they are tenants, these knuckledraggers will accept that the rent for using the stadium in its entirety plus for 25+ home games a season will be in excess of £2.5m?

The ground needs around £8 million investment.

Well if the stadium becomes the separate entity but still owned by our owner who out of charity bought the failing tics and if Wigan Ath were to fault on the rent surely they could be asked to leave and go to a more suitable stadium or even park (with jumpers for posts),only joking.
But isn't it great to take over and now the tics are beholding to Wigan Rugby and their owner to survive,oh the day of "the town is turning blue" are long gone now boy's.

I was aware Brian that a few million was required but didn’t think it would be so high. Some of it obviously due to age but I suspect that a significant amount due to lack of any expenditure over more recent years.
Some Latics fans still bemoaning “lack” of expenditure by Danson.

The irony of a wage bill at nearly £6m per year with the top paid player on £12k per week, and they are still moaning when our total cap is well below half of that

i'd cash the bronze DW tribute to himself in, and put that towards the repair bill

And with a rather jaundiced cynical hat on, it also separates it from oversight by the footy regulator coming in and as such any subsequent sale wouldn't be scrutinised as heavily as it might be & could pave the way for any carpet-bagger screwing us all.

Appears to be a good outcome for both clubs and hopefully Mike Danson.

I'd imagine the SMC will run the place well with the improvements that will benefit us all.

Get the seats all red & white.

Got a mate who is a Latics fan (honest I have!) and he’s heard that there is a possibility that the east stand maybe upgraded to accommodate corporate boxes.
From a personal point of view if there are major changes I’d love some standing areas but I suspect that I will be a long time waiting for that outcome.

What's the obsession some fans have with standing areas Itchy? I honestly don't get it. They're terrible!

An actual terrace would be great but I agree that the safe standing areas are pretty pointless. I've been in them a few times and everyone tends to sit down anyway.