Wigan Athletic FC and Wigan Warriors RLFC owner Mike Danson has issued a statement informing fans that he is looking to sell the town’s admitted that he is seeking to sell the Greater Manchester town’s football club, or at the very least raise additional finance for the club, who despite currently languishing in the lower reaches of League One were a Premier League competitor just over a decade ago, and beat Manchester City in the 2012 FA Cup Final under previous owner, JJB Sports’ Dave Whelan.
Publishing entrepreneur Danson, who also owns the stadium and the town’s rugby league club, who the Latics ground share with, was convinced to rescue Athletic by local MP and now culutire minister Lisa Nandy MP, along with fan groups, when the club were facing bankruptcy in 2023.
Danson’s statement said: “We are aware of recent reports regarding the circulation of an investment memorandum. We want to be straightforward with supporters about what this means.
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“Since acquiring the Club in 2023, our priority has been to stabilise Wigan Athletic after a period of significant turmoil, and we are proud of the progress made.
“Earlier this year, the Danson family took the decision to explore options for bringing additional investment into the Club to support its long-term ambitions.
“This was a decision taken by the ownership, not the wider board. That process is open to a range of outcomes – including a full change of ownership, if the right party came forward with the right commitment to the Club and the town.
“We understand that any mention of ownership change will cause concern among a fanbase that has been through more than its share of uncertainty. We did not seek to publicise this process because we did not want to create anxiety about something that may not lead to any change at all. That was a judgment call, and we accept that others may see it differently.
“What we can say clearly is this: we will not hand this Club to anyone who does not share our commitment to its stability, its community role, and its future. The Danson family remains fully engaged in the day-to-day running of the Club, and that will not change unless and until we are satisfied that any new investment or ownership would be in the best interests of Wigan Athletic.
“We will continue to keep supporters informed through the established channels.”
Danson acquired the club from previous owner Abdulrahman Al Jasmi and paid into the club to cover all outstanding debt and settle wage arrears, although he has never been shy about the fact that his priority has largely been the town’s (more successful) rugby league club, and that the football deal was a stabilising investment rather than a long-term commitment.
Culture Secretary Nandy said she has spoken to Danson and acknowledged the “considerable anxiety” the news caused supporters.
Image: Arne Müseler / arne-mueseler.com / CC-BY-SA-3.0
