Been sold

My view on it all is:

We were truly in the shit before Danson stepped in, we were literally days off another administration due to unpaid taxes and this time I don’t think we’d have survived.

Whatever motives Danson had at the the time of the takeover didn’t really matter it was all about someone coming in, paying the tax bill and stabilising the club.

I always took the view that, Danson wanted the stadium, he knew that for the rugby to have a home it needed 2 codes playing as the rugby’s income could not afford to run it on their own.

I mean, can you imagine it being closed from October to March ?. Not only that, I always thought he’d be the kind of person who could not own the rugby and pay rent say to a new Latics owner that would make him grind his teeth.

Danson then spent the first 12 months paying a huge weekly unsustainable wage bill till all their contracts ended and we saw the light of day so again regardless not many owners could carry that weight.

At the time I was just glad still to have Wigan Athletic and not Wigan A.F.C in the 10th tier, Danson basically saved us from extinction let’s not forget that.

The stadium:

What was a good idea when it opened has turned into a huge white elephant. Apparently the running cost right now are literally through the roof. From staffing to energy, water you name it everything’s gone through the ceiling.

So this big debate about Danson wanting the stadium for the rugby? well it isn’t there’s, as we know no code owns it, it’s in a separate holding company so both the football and rugby don’t own it and that is worrying you only have to look at Coventry and what they went through for years. But it ain’t all doom and gloom there’s a few clubs who don’t own their own stadium.

I remember someone saying when Talal was in charge that it needed millions spending on it as no one had kept up with it’s maintenance so again it was nothing more than a ball & chain around the football clubs neck.

I’m personally glad it it’s gone the financial weekly burdens being lifted .

As for Danson?, his long term plan was never to keep us and that’s fine but right now we’re in a far far better position off the park than on it.

My gripes:

Danson reportedly wants £10million for us but what do you get for your money ?. You get a near worthless squad, Christopher Park, a bag of balls and bibs. And, who maintains the women’s team ? the weekly loss they make ??.

Couple £10milluon sale fee with the £8million he made from player sales a total return of £18million then he wants to keep 20%, 20% of Hughes Tickle A.Robinson. 20% basically keeps his finger in the pie just incase things turn for the better and a few quid along the way.

On that I’d sooner he didn’t and stick to losing £6-£8million a year with the rugby

Although there’s no exact figure what he paid for the club (pennies I heard) he cleared around £3Million of debt so he’s won’t come out too bruised.

So what’s next:

Well we need investors.

The crunch to that is, what do new investors get for their money and what is covered in any rent deal struck up. The rumour is someone from the U.S is very interested so if Danson retains 20% he’ll be shrewed who they are.

But at the end of the day, we are one of many clubs suffering from the global financial crisis. Plymouth are paying the price for gambling are have been left with a huge wage bill so people are losing their jobs.

Bradford with there 20k a week up for sale, and if Horwich don’t go up you will 100% see a massive upheaval at the Oneshit.

My overall thoughts:

Danson saved us so we have to thank him for that. We can’t blame him unloading us if his hearts not in it but the main thing is, we’re still here whether it’s L1 L2 non league we’re still breathing so let’s all be thankful.

At first, like many, I thought Danson will push us on but it was soon clear to see that was never going to happen.

I just hope we can find a new owner who can invest in us, believe in the ethos of the club and hopefully put us into the championship and hold our own.

But chaps let’s not hate on Danson, without him at the time we took over we were well and truly fooked

• This topic was modified 1 week, 2 days ago by cup winners.