| Plucky Little Wigan 19:15 - Jul 2 with 5098 views | basilrobbiereborn |
What on earth is REALLY going on there then?
Mr. Krasner has already gone on the record to say that they are not certain to see the season though to completion. He knows how to manage expectations, does Gerald.
Nice to see that the integrity of that competition is also in good hands, like L1 and L2 have proved to be. | |
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| Plucky Little Wigan on 21:15 - Sep 3 with 906 views | BringBackTheRedRoom |
Agree, not looking good. There's some classic quotes in those last two articles...
"I'm still talking to the Americans, they were emailed yesterday.
"But the problem is they're on a different time-zone, and we can't answer their emails a minute after we get them, we've got to think and dig out what they want."
I use to have to phone clients in the USA. Would do it at 7PM which was 2PM New York time, and 10AM LA time. Utter bulls**t from the admins.
Then this...
"I'm going to put a team out until somebody tells me I can't," he said.
Who made Gerald Krasner first team manager? That whole article is really just about him, not Wigan. That's some ego | |
| ‘Where there is harmony, may we bring discord. Where there is truth, may we bring error. Where there is faith, may we bring doubt. And where there is hope, may we bring despair’ |
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| Plucky Little Wigan on 11:40 - Sep 7 with 885 views | BringBackTheRedRoom |
Wigan Athletic: Viv Solomon-Otabor and Dan Gardner join club as Gary Roberts re-signs
Wigan Athletic have brought in Viv Solomon-Otabor and Dan Gardner on short-term deals as well as re-signing veteran Gary Roberts on similar terms.
Ex-Portsmouth midfielder Roberts, 36, has played 63 times since joining Wigan in 2017 and was part of the squad relegated to League One last term.
Former Birmingham City winger Solomon-Otabor, 24, spent last season with CSKA Sofia in Bulgaria.
Midfielder Gardner, 30, is previously of Oldham and Chesterfield.
The Latics, relegated after incurring a 12-point penalty for entering administration, are rebuilding after losing a string of players this summer while the club seeks new owners.
Antonee Robinson, Kieffer Moore, David Marshall, Chey Dunkley, Jamal Lowe and Josh Windass are among the names to have departed the DW Stadium.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54028758 | |
| ‘Where there is harmony, may we bring discord. Where there is truth, may we bring error. Where there is faith, may we bring doubt. And where there is hope, may we bring despair’ |
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| Plucky Little Wigan on 16:01 - Sep 7 with 870 views | spell_chekker |
This Wigan thing's becoming a bit of an undignified soap opera. | |
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| Plucky Little Wigan on 07:39 - Sep 8 with 854 views | BringBackTheRedRoom |
American bidders 'not serious at the moment' - Wigan Athletic administrator
Gerald Krasner doesn't believe the American consortium fronted by Oostende CEO Gauthier Ganaye are 'serious bidders' for Wigan Athletic at present - despite them meeting the asking price for the club and Christopher Park training ground.
Krasner confirmed the group - backed by American financiers Randy Frankel and Michael Kalt - have submitted a £500,000 bid for the Standish Lower Ground base, plus a token £1 for the club.
But the Latics co-administrator says their lack of a plan for the DW Stadium - which is up for grabs at a cool £3million - means the offer had to be turned away.
When asked by the Wigan Post if they'd met the asking price for the club and the training ground, Krasner replied: "Yes they have.
"But then there's no stadium to play in, is there?
"They're not interested in the stadium.
"Somebody still has to be the stadium and then come to a deal with the Americans.
"Whatever you write and whatever you do on this will be wrong, I'll tell you now, because I'm not going to tell the whole story today."
Two fresh bidders are also understood to have gatecrashed the process, with Wigan's costly wage bill having been slashed by the recent flood of sales.
"What I will say is talks are progressing with a number of very serious bidders," Krasner confirmed.
"I don't think the Americans are serious bidders at the moment.
"They're running their campaign through the media, despite doing an NDA (non-disclosure agreement).
"They are telling the media certain things that suit them, and other things that don't suit them are not being disclosed.
"When I do my next press conference, I will cover it.
"They don't understand, and I'm not going into the details now.
"But they have put that offer in, which we would accept under certain conditions, which they won't accept."
Krasner confirmed there had been no offers for the DW Stadium as yet, and refused to say whether any more players would be leaving.
"No comment," he added. "I'm not making it easy for you, I know, but it has to be done this way."
https://www.wigantoday.net/sport/football/american-bidders-not-serious-moment-wi
Car Crash TV  | |
| ‘Where there is harmony, may we bring discord. Where there is truth, may we bring error. Where there is faith, may we bring doubt. And where there is hope, may we bring despair’ |
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| Plucky Little Wigan on 09:51 - Sep 8 with 842 views | Imperial |
I thought the EFL sought guarantees that clubs could survive the season in these situations. | | | |
| Plucky Little Wigan on 10:39 - Sep 8 with 835 views | BringBackTheRedRoom |
Once again, that interview is all about Krasner. How many times does he use "I" in it?
Really strange claim that no one wants the stadium. | |
| ‘Where there is harmony, may we bring discord. Where there is truth, may we bring error. Where there is faith, may we bring doubt. And where there is hope, may we bring despair’ |
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| Plucky Little Wigan on 12:15 - Sep 9 with 826 views | BringBackTheRedRoom |
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| ‘Where there is harmony, may we bring discord. Where there is truth, may we bring error. Where there is faith, may we bring doubt. And where there is hope, may we bring despair’ |
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| Plucky Little Wigan on 12:41 - Sep 9 with 824 views | BringBackTheRedRoom |
Wigan Athletic 'move to play at Leigh' rumour is hosed down
Administrators in charge of Wigan Athletic have eased fans fears the club may relocate to Leigh.
A report in The Sun suggested the American group fronted by Frenchman Gauthier Ganaye would want to play at the Sports Village to save on costs.
Co-administrator Paul Stanley said: "We've not had a bidder proposing moving the club to Leigh. It doesn't mean that someone won't make that offer - but why would we accept that?"
Such a fanciful and controversial move, while it would be cost-effective for the new owner, wouldn't make sense for the administrators, the council - which also owns the Sports Village - or DW stable-mates, Wigan Warriors.
It wouldn't raise enough to pay off the non-football creditors to ensure Latics aren't docked 15 points. And it would leave the administrators with an empty £3m-valued stadium which the Warriors are unlikely - or unable - to operate alone, given the high running costs.
The administrators - in charge of the club since July 1 - have been clear their preference is to sell Wigan Athletic with its three main assets: the DW Stadium - which they value at £3m - as well as the Christopher Park training base (£500,000) and the site of Sharpey's chippy (£500,000).
Stanley said they one bidder had even suggested playing home games on the road at different available grounds each week, which isn't allowed under EFL rules. Clubs exiting administration must have a tenancy agreement on a ground for 10 years (exceptions may be made for building work).
Co-administrator Gerald Krasner, who had previously dismissed the American bidders as 'not serious', was equally dismissive of the idea they may sell the club to an owner who planned to relocate Wigan Athletic to Leigh.
"It’s rubbish, the new owners are going to move us to Leigh?" he told supporter Barry Worthington, of Progress With Unity, who is holding a weekly update with him.
"There’s no way we’re going to be left with an empty stadium... this is not part of a game plan that we are involved in — and you can quote me on that."
https://www.wigantoday.net/sport/football/wigan-athletic-move-play-leigh-rumour- | |
| ‘Where there is harmony, may we bring discord. Where there is truth, may we bring error. Where there is faith, may we bring doubt. And where there is hope, may we bring despair’ |
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| Plucky Little Wigan on 22:01 - Sep 10 with 815 views | BringBackTheRedRoom |
Wigan Athletic fans outline plans for demonstration
A section of the Wigan Athletic fanbase will be taking part in a peaceful demonstration at Begbies Traynor HQ in Manchester on Friday.
The group of supporters - calling themselves the 'Wigan Athletic Grievance Society' - want to show the depth of feeling generated by the administration process over the last couple of months.
A statement read: "The Wigan Athletic Grievance Society has become increasingly alarmed and dismayed at the ongoing situation related to our football club.
"From the minute the administrators entered the club on 1st July, we have had nothing but false promises, contradictory statements, a fire-sale of players, and what appear to be worrying signs of growing mistrust between Begbies Traynor and everyone else involved.
"We would like to praise the Official Supporters Club for their superb efforts in raising over £800k since the club went into administration.
"These efforts have hopefully secured some sort of short-term future for our beloved club; for that, we thank them wholeheartedly.
"The working-class town and fans of Wigan (along with football fans from around the country) have dug deep in the middle of a pandemic, when many people’s financial futures appear to be insecure.
"There have been at least 75 redundancies at the football club — including many Wiganers devoted to Latics.
"At the same time, the administration, legal, and agent fees negotiated by Begbies Traynor for this whole debacle currently stand at approximately £3million.
"Who is benefitting from the crisis that has hit Wigan Athletic and who are the ones suffering?
"Alongside the false promises, contradictory statements, the sale of players and assets well below their value, and growing mistrust, we have also witnessed the unprofessional behaviour of administrators Gerald Krasner and Paul Stanley.
"They repeatedly contradict each other and make misleading comments while attacking those in the media who have the temerity to place a spotlight on their activities — calling ex-Crystal Palace owner Simon Jordan a “halfwit”, for example, and walking out of an interview with Channel 4 News.
"Is this how they should be behaving? Is this what Wigan Athletic fans should expect from those in charge of our club? We have been treated disgracefully by the previous owners IEC and Au Yeung Wai Kay and repeatedly let down by the EFL and now Begbies Traynor.
"Enough is enough. We believe a more direct form of action from Latics fans is now needed. League One starts this weekend and the administrators have still not received confirmation from the EFL that we can start the season.
"Therefore, on the eve of the new season, this Friday 11th September, we — as a broad collective of Wigan Athletic fans — will picket Begbies Traynor HQ in Central Manchester.
"The aim of the demonstration is to put a spotlight on the actions of Gerald Krasner, Paul Stanley, and Dean Watson, to get clear answers explaining why agreements haven’t been reached with what appear to be serious bidders, and to raise more awareness of the plight of our club.
"Wigan Athletic is dying, we cannot sit back and let that happen.
"We will assemble in St Peter’s Square, Manchester, M2 5PD (outside the library) at 11.30am this Friday before a demonstration outside Begbies Traynor HQ at 340 Deansgate, Manchester, M3 4LY (opposite the entrance to Beetham Tower/Hilton Hotel).
"Please remember to be mindful of social distancing guidance. The demonstration will be peaceful, but we will seek direct answers to direct questions."
https://www.wigantoday.net/sport/football/wigan-athletic-fans-outline-plans-demo
This would be illegal after Monday, if there was more than six people. | |
| ‘Where there is harmony, may we bring discord. Where there is truth, may we bring error. Where there is faith, may we bring doubt. And where there is hope, may we bring despair’ |
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| Plucky Little Wigan on 10:28 - Sep 11 with 806 views | BringBackTheRedRoom |
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| ‘Where there is harmony, may we bring discord. Where there is truth, may we bring error. Where there is faith, may we bring doubt. And where there is hope, may we bring despair’ |
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| Plucky Little Wigan on 09:57 - Sep 12 with 795 views | Imperial |
Start the season?. Bury had to supply evidence that they would be able to complete it. | | | |
| Plucky Little Wigan on 20:31 - Sep 16 with 775 views | BringBackTheRedRoom |
Wigan in danger of being wound up like Macclesfield, administrators warn
Administrators outline difficulty of finding buyer amid Covid
Offers over £2m wanted for team, stadium and training ground
The administrators trying to find a buyer for Wigan Athletic fear the club could become the next Macclesfield, because of the difficulty of finding willing investors during the pandemic.
Covid-19 was cited by Wigan’s Hong Kong owners as the reason for pulling the plug in the first place, plunging the club into administration and triggering a 12-point deduction that saw them relegated into League One, and Paul Stanley of the corporate recovery specialists Begbies Traynor admits that selling an empty stadium is a much harder task than dealing with a football sale in normal circumstances.
His comments come on a bleak day for lower-league football as Macclesfield, relegated from League Two in August, were wound up after a judge was told the club owe more than £500,000.
“The pandemic certainly isn’t doing us any favours,” Stanley said. “Wigan are similar to Macclesfield in some ways, and Bury and Bolton for that matter. They are all just a bit too close to the big teams in Manchester, and were finding it hard-going financially when their grounds were still open to fans. Macclesfield have just been wound up but they could have been saved had an investor come along with as little as £150,000 or so. The club could have been bought for that price, but evidently no one wanted it.”
Begbies Traynor is asking about £3.3m for Wigan, priced as a package to include stadium, team and a training ground. In normal times that would seem an attractive price for a side that stayed in the Premier League for eight seasons a decade ago and won the FA Cup as recently as 2013, but these are far from normal times and Stanley and his colleagues have not been trampled in the rush.
“That is the lowest possible price to allow sufficient funds to pay the remaining creditors,” Stanley said. “If new buyers are unable to do that there will be a further 15-point deduction under EFL rules. Most buyers would obviously want to avoid that, but if anyone out there is willing to take a 15-point penalty we could probably do a deal for just north of £2m. That is definitely cheap when you consider the club still has a few players who might be worth that much.”
Many Wigan supporters might take issue with that, for despite Stanley’s initial promise that there would be no firesale at the club, more than 10 players have been sold at bargain prices. At least that is what a group calling itself the Wigan Athletic Grievance Society believe. Some 40 or 50 of its members demonstrated outside the Begbies Traynor office in Manchester last Friday, upset by a perceived lack of clarity on the part of the administrators and the suspicion that assets including quality players such as Antonee Robinson, Joe Gelhardt, Nathan Byrne and Sam Morsy had been offloaded on the cheap, in essence amounting to a firesale.
“You have to remember that Wigan have been relegated since I made that first statement,” Stanley said. “As a Championship side they would have had a much better chance of retaining their best players. As a Championship player Robinson alone would have been worth anything between £3m and £6m, but when Wigan went into League One they were powerless to keep him because he had a clause in his contract that said he could leave for £1.9m in the event of relegation.
“We actually got £2m for him from Fulham, which was good going, but what we feel was our major achievement in keeping the club alive was negotiating with the Hong Kong owners to get them to waive the 25% of their original investment that new buyers would have been obliged to fund. We are just pleased that we managed to finish last season and start this one.
“I’m sorry if supporters think the process is taking too long, but it is complicated and this is simply not the best of times to be selling a lower-league club in the Greater Manchester area. What people must not forget is that even when Dave Whelan was still in charge, he was putting in £800,000 a month to keep going. ”
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/sep/16/wigan-in-danger-of-being-wound- | |
| ‘Where there is harmony, may we bring discord. Where there is truth, may we bring error. Where there is faith, may we bring doubt. And where there is hope, may we bring despair’ |
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| Plucky Little Wigan on 12:12 - Sep 17 with 765 views | basilrobbiereborn |
A period of media silence from Begbies would be very welcome. | |
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| Plucky Little Wigan on 15:49 - Sep 21 with 753 views | BringBackTheRedRoom |
Administrators claim bidder pulled out due to news of lower bid on social media
Wigan Athletic's administrators say a principal bidder for the League One club dropped out after news spread on social media of a lower rival bid.
In a statement, Begbies Traynor said an anonymous bidder was due to deposit £4m with their lawyers on 14 September.
The administrators allege they withdrew their bid in light of news emerging the day before that a £2m bid from a French-American group was turned down.
This, they say, caused other parties to turn in bids at a much lower price.
The statement went on to claim that the French-American group did in fact go on to bid £2m for the club on Friday, with the caveat that the administrators would pay £1.3m to creditors in order to avoid the club being given a 15-point penalty, but that bid was turned down.
They also warned that there is "considerable liability" to HM Revenue & Customs because of wage deferrals from the impact of coronavirus and VAT owed on player sales, while those players who have left the club were owed a month's wages "at Championship rates".
"Taken together with the costs of the appeal [against last season's points deduction], the loss in administration is over £3m which has to be paid before any dividend can be paid to the unsecured creditors," the statement added.
"That becomes an impossibility when the actual offer is only £2m. If this bid is remade it will be given very serious consideration."
Wigan, who were relegated to League One having being given a points deduction for entering administration last season, were given permission by the English Football League to begin the 2020-21 season despite not finding a new owner in time for the start of the campaign.
Fans have crowdfunded nearly £700,000 in order to secure the club's immediate future, having succeeded in raising an initial £500,000.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54234369 | |
| ‘Where there is harmony, may we bring discord. Where there is truth, may we bring error. Where there is faith, may we bring doubt. And where there is hope, may we bring despair’ |
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| Plucky Little Wigan on 20:49 - Sep 21 with 746 views | BringBackTheRedRoom |
'I'll wait to buy Wigan Athletic', reveals Smurthwaite
Norman Smurthwaite says he’ll remain in the wings as a ‘last resort’ to buy Wigan Athletic - despite seeing a bid just short of £3million turned down.
Speaking exclusively to Wigan Today, the 60-year-old — who used to own Port Vale — wants to avoid Latics becoming ‘another Macclesfield’.
And he revealed he’d be happy to work with the Supporters Club, who have raised more than £850,000 since the club was placed into administration on July 1.
“I’ve spoken to an intermediary, and I’ve told them I’m still here as a last resort, if nothing else concrete happens in the coming weeks,” Smurthwaite said.
“If there isn’t a genuine buyer, we don’t want to see another Macclesfield, let’s try and iron out a deal. And I’ve no problems with the fans having representation, through the Supporters Club.
“If the Supporters Club would like to discuss saving the club with me, I would be happy to sit down with them.”
Smurthwaite also revealed how his plan to take control of the club — a £1.5m down payment, with a further guarantee just short of that figure to pay off the creditors — was given short shrift by the administrators.
“I’ve only made the one bid, and it was flatly rejected in a matter of minutes,” he said.
“When I first got involved, I was told I’d need to offer £3.3m, which would cover everything.
“I told them I didn’t think it was worth quite that much, so I went in with a bit less — but would have covered the 25p in the pound requirement.
“They said they would ring me back, they haven’t, so I’ve taken the view they’re not taking me seriously.
“I’m not going to do anything else now. Let’s wait and see what happens.”
Smurthwaite’s pledge followed the release of a quite extraordinary statement from the administrators, which made several jaw-dropping claims concerning the process to date.
Begbies Traynor claimed an unnamed investor was prepared to deposit £4m with their lawyers but backed off after social media speculation about a rival £2m offer from a French-American consortium.
That bid belatedly came but only with the caveat that Begbies Traynor would be responsible for a £1.3m payment to creditors that would see the club avoid a 15-point deduction. The bid was rejected.
“On Sunday 13 September, social media was inundated with news that the French-Americans had made a final bid of £2m,” a lengthy statement read.
“Despite being in constant communication with the French-Americans, no such bid was received that day.
“What it did do however was panic some of the very interested buyers. As a result of all the adverse publicity this generated, one of the principal bidders backed out Monday morning and they were due that day to deposit £4m with their lawyers on the basis of anonymity at this stage.
“They said the publicity had put them off and their bid was withdrawn. It also led to other parties (who were not in the front running for bids) to make similar offers, one of which was as low as £1.5m for all of the assets.
“We did in fact receive a bid of £2m from the French-Americans as predicted on Friday 18 September at 16:25pm. What was not disclosed with this bid on social media however was the strings attached to it — namely that we had to pay the £1.3m to creditors to avoid the 15-point penalty.
“This was not feasible under English law and we went back within the hour at 17:19pm to inform them that their bid had been rejected and the reasons why.
“If they want to rethink the bid and remove the clause where we have to pay the £1.3m then that will be seriously looked at by the joint administrators.”
The administrators also warned about a “considerable liability” to HM Revenue & Customs on player wages and VAT owed on sales.
The statement added: “Taken together with the costs of the appeal, the loss in administration is over £3m which has to be paid before any dividend can be paid to the unsecured creditors.
That becomes an impossibility when the actual offer is only £2m. If this bid is remade it will be given very serious consideration.”
Latics, who were relegated to League One last season after a 12-point deduction for being placed in administration, are seeking a buyer to secure their long-term future.
An initial deadline for a sale of August 31 was missed, but the club were given permission by the EFL to start the campaign earlier this month.
https://www.wigantoday.net/sport/football/ill-wait-buy-wigan-athletic-reveals-sm | |
| ‘Where there is harmony, may we bring discord. Where there is truth, may we bring error. Where there is faith, may we bring doubt. And where there is hope, may we bring despair’ |
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| Plucky Little Wigan on 18:18 - Sep 30 with 725 views | BringBackTheRedRoom |
Wigan Athletic: Administrators agree deal with Spain-based bidder
Wigan Athletic's administrators say they have reached an agreement with a bidder from Spain to purchase the financially troubled League One club.
The Latics entered administration in July and were subsequently relegated from the Championship after a mandatory 12-point deduction was enforced.
In the meantime, fans have raised nearly £700,000 to support the club.
The bidder, who is yet to be named, has paid a "substantial" deposit and will pay non-football creditors.
That will ensure the club does not pick up a further 15-point penalty from the English Football League for the current season, the administrators said in a statement.
"We are now working with our lawyers and the bidder to produce all of the necessary paperwork to submit to the EFL so that successful transfer of the football share can be made at the earliest opportunity," the statement continued.
"The preferred bidder who has experience in football has made it plain that they do not wish for their details to be made public until such time as the sale is completed and we are respecting this anonymity."
Wigan's administration this summer came just one month after a change of ownership.
The Latics would have comfortably survived in the Championship without the points deduction and, at the end of the campaign, a number of players were sold in order to cover costs and pay wages.
Many staff at the club were also made redundant as administrators Begbies Traynor searched for a buyer, with fans and former players raising funds to help out as the hunt drew on.
Paul Cook left his position as manager following relegation to the third tier, with former Oldham and Carlisle manager John Sheridan arriving earlier this month ahead of the new campaign.
On 21 September, the administrators claimed a principal bidder for the club dropped out after news spread on social media of a lower rival bid.
News of the agreed deal, which is subject to EFL approval, comes after the Latics sealed their first league win of the season at Portsmouth on Saturday.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54361786
Don't we know a former owner now in Spain? Also there is that King of Marbella guy as well!!!...  | |
| ‘Where there is harmony, may we bring discord. Where there is truth, may we bring error. Where there is faith, may we bring doubt. And where there is hope, may we bring despair’ |
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| Plucky Little Wigan on 18:40 - Sep 30 with 721 views | spell_chekker |
I wouldn't wish either of those on them.
In other news, Wigan got some points on the board with a good away win at Portsmouth on Saturday. | |
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| Plucky Little Wigan on 21:49 - Sep 30 with 712 views | BringBackTheRedRoom |
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| ‘Where there is harmony, may we bring discord. Where there is truth, may we bring error. Where there is faith, may we bring doubt. And where there is hope, may we bring despair’ |
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| Plucky Little Wigan on 21:54 - Sep 30 with 710 views | BringBackTheRedRoom |
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| ‘Where there is harmony, may we bring discord. Where there is truth, may we bring error. Where there is faith, may we bring doubt. And where there is hope, may we bring despair’ |
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