MX23RW : Thursday, March 28 12:59:59| >> :120:4837:4837:

Wigan Athletic administrators focused on finding a buyer

Wigan Athletic administrators focused on finding a buyer
© Reuters
However, an investigation will take place into how the Championship club ended up in the current position.

The administrators of Wigan say an investigation will take place in due course into how the club ended up in this position, but that the immediate priority is to find a buyer.

The Sky Bet Championship side were placed in administration on Wednesday and face a 12-point deduction, though when that sanction will be applied will depend on where Latics finish in the league.

A deal to sell the club from the Hong Kong-based International Entertainment Corporation (IEC) to the Next Leader Fund was only formally completed on June 4, and administrator Gerald Krasner of insolvency practitioner Begbies Traynor said that the events of the last few weeks must be looked at in time.

Asked how unusual a club being placed in administration four weeks after a sale was, he said: "I think that's a first and that will have to be looked at in due course.

"But my priorities at the moment are to get this club sold and make sure we get to the end of the season so that there is a club next season.

"Every administration I've been involved in – and even Leeds United which wasn't an administration – has its peculiarities. But I think four weeks is a record that will stand for some time."

Krasner added: "It has been run in a good way but it's lost a lot of money. They (the board) had a plan and the owners have said 'we're not putting any more money in' hence I'm sat here today."

Krasner said there had already been 12 expressions of interest, but he expected that number to fall once proof of funds were expected.

Dave Whelan sold Wigan in 2018
Dave Whelan sold Wigan in 2018 (Barrington Coombs/PA)

Former owner Dave Whelan, who sold to IEC in November 2018, said on Wednesday he would help out if he could, and Krasner said he was due to speak to Whelan's grandson David Sharpe on Thursday to discuss what form that help might take.

"What we need is money, to put it basically," Krasner said.

Much has been made of Wigan being the first club to enter administration since the start of the coronavirus crisis, but Krasner agreed it was too simplistic to solely blame the pandemic for what had happened.

"The coronavirus doesn't help and whether that made the owners' decision not to put money in, I don't know," he said. "But I don't blame this entirely on the coronavirus. I think it's just an element in the problem."

Krasner said he had already apprised Latics manager Paul Cook of the situation and said he would not interfere in team matters.

Paul Cook is Wigan's manager
Paul Cook is Wigan's manager (Martin Rickett/PA)

The club are 14th at present with six games to go. If they finish outside the bottom three then the 12-point deduction – if not appealed – would apply to the 2019-20 table. If they are relegated, the deduction would apply at the start of their 2020-21 Sky Bet League One campaign instead.

Krasner did not rule out the possibility of an appeal, adding: "There are rights of appeal in unusual circumstances, it's called force majeure.

"I've not yet had the letter from the Football League, I've seen what they have said publicly, but until I've seen the letter and consider it with my lawyers I'm not sure how we're going to deal with this and I couldn't possibly tell you today what's going to happen."

Wigan MP Lisa Nandy has written a strongly-worded open letter to the EFL, urging it to "reconsider the decision to penalise the club after failures of your making".

Lisa Nandy has written to the EFL
Lisa Nandy has written to the EFL (Danny Lawson/PA)

The letter, which is published on www.wigantoday.net, read: "I am at a complete loss as to how, given the circumstances which are now coming to light, this ownership could have been approved.

"I am also appalled that having presided over this situation, a 12-point deduction will be given to Wigan Athletic which has further weakened our position at this critical moment.

"It is simply disgraceful that you have chosen to penalise our club for your own failures.

"I cannot express strongly enough how angry people feel about this. This has been shocking news for our town and all Latics supporters.

"Can you tell me how this new ownership model came to be approved, what tests were set and why they were deemed to be met?

"I am also asking you, in the strongest terms, to reconsider the decision to penalise the club after failures of your making."

ID:404823: cacheID:404823:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:9905:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
General view of Wigan Athletic's DW Stadium taken January 2015
Read Next:
Wigan Athletic: Transfer ins and outs - Summer 2020
>
Read more about Gerald Krasner Football
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Portsmouth392411463323183
2Derby CountyDerby402461069353478
3Bolton WanderersBolton39228971432874
4Peterborough UnitedPeterborough38218974462871
5Barnsley382011770482271
6Oxford UnitedOxford Utd391891262521063
7Stevenage3917111151401162
8Lincoln CityLincoln3916131056332361
9Blackpool391791357421560
10Leyton Orient391610134444058
11Northampton TownNorthampton40158175160-953
12Wigan AthleticWigan39177155348550
13Wycombe WanderersWycombe381311145049150
14Bristol Rovers38148164857-950
15Exeter CityExeter39138183352-1947
16Charlton AthleticCharlton391015145758-145
17Shrewsbury TownShrewsbury39135212955-2644
18Reading39139175557-242
19Burton Albion39109203151-2039
20Cambridge UnitedCambridge38109193255-2339
21Port Vale3899203661-2536
22Cheltenham TownCheltenham3798203050-2035
23Fleetwood TownFleetwood39713194161-2034
24Carlisle UnitedCarlisle3959253569-3424


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!