Wigan Athletic News 24/7Writer: worbo 
Date:Wednesday March 25 2009
Time: 12:09PM
UK time is: 23:09:05
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Whelan Turns Down Mega Sponsor Deal For Ego Trip
Wigan Athletic chairman Dave Whelan has reportedly knocked back a £1 million sponsorship deal from a Norwegian TV network to have his own name on the Latics shirts next season according to the Daily Mirror.
Whelan often questions whether the town of Wigan deserves a Premier League club due to the size of the attendances at the JJB but surely the club deserves to be run better than when they were in the Northern Premier League
With Watford receiving £1 million back in 2006 for a years sponsorship the laughable £100,000 reportedly charged to JJB for 3 years is a joke if true.
Wigan Athletic appear to be nothing more than a vehicle for an egotistical modern day Bradley Hardacre to exhibit his latest craze, at least we aren`t going to be sponsored by Vizwear or are we?
Whelan spouts about building the stadium and taking the club from the Third Division to the Premier League, the rise through the divisions was truly remarkable and a large amount of gratitude goes his way for this, but was not the stadium funded from a host of different sources including the sale of Springfield Park and Central Park as well as Sports Council and Lottery grants?
If this is true regarding the shirt sponsor deal then it is another blow to the credibility of the club in my opinion and I for one would love for someone to come in and buy out Mr Whelan
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Latics Speyk Podcast 5 Now Available
Vital Wigan are pleased to announce the latest episode of the popular Latics Speyk podcast is now available for download or just for listening to via the stream at the bottom of this page.
This episode talks to Latics fans Andrew Peredi and Dave Skully via the phone-in, features up and coming star Blackburn`s own Megan Ellison, opinions on the Sunderland game and the chance of European football for next season, with music from The Kooks, Jilted John, Jimi Hendrix and the one and only Megan Ellison.
If you subscribe to itunes you can download the Latics Speyk podcasts to listen to whenever you want, its easy, just load up your itunes then click the itunes store button on the left side of the screen…then click on podcast, type Wigan Athletic into the search and low and behold there we are, Latics Speyk, why not subscribe, its free and you will get notified as soon as each new episode is broadcast.
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Your Comments
WTF this is bo!!ox
worbo
WTF this is bo!!ox
worbo
Get off your high horse Worbo. What does it matter whose name is on the shirts? DW's got a new company and obviously wants to publicise it - he owns the club, pays the wages and so is well within his rights to put his name on the shirts if he wants to. A £1m deal with a Norwegian TV station is hardly groundbreaking in Premier League terms anyway so I don't see what the issue is. And as for wanting someone to come and buy the club that’s just laughable. We might not have had the “war chest” we’ve been promises, but we’re 7th in the league, got a decent squad and are an established Premier League team now.
PKB
Get off your high horse Worbo. What does it matter whose name is on the shirts? DW's got a new company and obviously wants to publicise it - he owns the club, pays the wages and so is well within his rights to put his name on the shirts if he wants to. A £1m deal with a Norwegian TV station is hardly groundbreaking in Premier League terms anyway so I don't see what the issue is. And as for wanting someone to come and buy the club that’s just laughable. We might not have had the “war chest” we’ve been promises, but we’re 7th in the league, got a decent squad and are an established Premier League team now.
PKB
We have one of the best managers in the League who surely wants to see the club show ambition, turning down £1 million however pawltry is still cash toward strengthening...Whelan says we havent the squad for a European assault, we wont have if we dont market the club in the right way and noises coming out of the JJB whoops sorry The DW suggest that he doesnt want a European tour...I bet he doesnt, staying in the Prem is a superb vehicle for mr ego to tout his business, read his quotes on the official site....I would sooner not have a sponsor like wba or carry a charity crest like villa or barcelona than the stupid Dopey Wa***r logo that we will have
worbo
We have one of the best managers in the League who surely wants to see the club show ambition, turning down £1 million however pawltry is still cash toward strengthening...Whelan says we havent the squad for a European assault, we wont have if we dont market the club in the right way and noises coming out of the JJB whoops sorry The DW suggest that he doesnt want a European tour...I bet he doesnt, staying in the Prem is a superb vehicle for mr ego to tout his business, read his quotes on the official site....I would sooner not have a sponsor like wba or carry a charity crest like villa or barcelona than the stupid Dopey Wa***r logo that we will have
worbo
But I don’t see how turning down the sponsorship of a Norwegian TV company (who lets face it, very few people outside of Norway will have heard of) is lacking in ambition. Personally I thought £1m for a season is cheap – if we are looking externally for sponsorship it would be nice to think the Wigan brand was worth more than that (considering Everton, for example, have an £8m three-year deal with Chang).
I agree it’s good to see the club attracting external revenue streams, but we’re in the fortunate position not to be reliant on them given DW’s backing. It’s the same with the stadium name – I would have preferred the Springfield Stadium or the Robin Park Arena when we first moved there, but understandably DW wanted to promote his former company and now wants to promote his new company.
As for him not wanting to get into Europe – find some quotes where he said that and I’ll believe you. I’m sure it’s more of a heart vs head even if he has said something. Like many others, it’d be a dream come true for me to see Latics in Europe, but we do have a small squad and it could be tough given the number of games we’d have to play.
PKB
But I don’t see how turning down the sponsorship of a Norwegian TV company (who lets face it, very few people outside of Norway will have heard of) is lacking in ambition. Personally I thought £1m for a season is cheap – if we are looking externally for sponsorship it would be nice to think the Wigan brand was worth more than that (considering Everton, for example, have an £8m three-year deal with Chang).
I agree it’s good to see the club attracting external revenue streams, but we’re in the fortunate position not to be reliant on them given DW’s backing. It’s the same with the stadium name – I would have preferred the Springfield Stadium or the Robin Park Arena when we first moved there, but understandably DW wanted to promote his former company and now wants to promote his new company.
As for him not wanting to get into Europe – find some quotes where he said that and I’ll believe you. I’m sure it’s more of a heart vs head even if he has said something. Like many others, it’d be a dream come true for me to see Latics in Europe, but we do have a small squad and it could be tough given the number of games we’d have to play.
PKB
Along with the DW stadium sponsorship, which we don't know the value of, Whelan today commited to writing off £15m worth of loans and making us debt free in the next 12/18 months.
eh?
Along with the DW stadium sponsorship, which we don't know the value of, Whelan today commited to writing off £15m worth of loans and making us debt free in the next 12/18 months.
eh?
"We have debts of about £15million now and I'm going to see if I can get that down to zero over the next 12 to 18 months."
Sounds like another ego trip to me.
PKB
"We have debts of about £15million now and I'm going to see if I can get that down to zero over the next 12 to 18 months."
Sounds like another ego trip to me.
PKB
DW often bemoans th ecrowds at the JJB. By linking up with a Norwegian company not only would we have got the dosh we would have the access intot eh Scandanavian market to attract fans to come and watch us.
Take a trip to Liverpool or M'cr airports when the big four N West clubs are at home and watch how many fans come to watch the games form that part of the world. We have a fledgling supporters group of 85 plus in Norway compared to 32,000 for Liverpool. We will never fill the stadium with our own fans as the town isn't big enough. If he wants more people to watch us the marketing and vision at the club currently will not deliver it.
Worboyou are dead right mate
baskerville
DW often bemoans th ecrowds at the JJB. By linking up with a Norwegian company not only would we have got the dosh we would have the access intot eh Scandanavian market to attract fans to come and watch us.
Take a trip to Liverpool or M'cr airports when the big four N West clubs are at home and watch how many fans come to watch the games form that part of the world. We have a fledgling supporters group of 85 plus in Norway compared to 32,000 for Liverpool. We will never fill the stadium with our own fans as the town isn't big enough. If he wants more people to watch us the marketing and vision at the club currently will not deliver it.
Worboyou are dead right mate
baskerville
Fair point – it would have certainly raised our profile in Norway and I’m sure raising our international profile is a focus for the club. A European spot and targeted pre-season tour will also help. But I don’t think we can expect 1,000s of Norwegians, Austrians, Egyptians to full the stadium for us – we have to build our local support which is what the club seems to be doing. If we can interest kids and get them to watch Wigan at an early stage rather than losing them to United/Liverpool, then in ten years or so we will be filling the stadium week in, week out.
PKB
Fair point – it would have certainly raised our profile in Norway and I’m sure raising our international profile is a focus for the club. A European spot and targeted pre-season tour will also help. But I don’t think we can expect 1,000s of Norwegians, Austrians, Egyptians to full the stadium for us – we have to build our local support which is what the club seems to be doing. If we can interest kids and get them to watch Wigan at an early stage rather than losing them to United/Liverpool, then in ten years or so we will be filling the stadium week in, week out.
PKB
Look at the number of coaches outside any big premier league club during the season and you will see them from all over the UK and Europe and filled with "home " fans.
We are in a competitive catchment area and need to attract fans from afar.
The club's mickey mouse attitude to marketing is laughable. I had to contact the club to get 5 fans tickets from Norway becuase they were refused because they weren't on the database.. Thankfully there si one person there who is clued in but he is on his own.
They don't have a strategy...simple as
baskerville
Look at the number of coaches outside any big premier league club during the season and you will see them from all over the UK and Europe and filled with "home " fans.
We are in a competitive catchment area and need to attract fans from afar.
The club's mickey mouse attitude to marketing is laughable. I had to contact the club to get 5 fans tickets from Norway becuase they were refused because they weren't on the database.. Thankfully there si one person there who is clued in but he is on his own.
They don't have a strategy...simple as
baskerville
Try giving a non-wigan postcode when you buy a ticket, even if you are on the database - take some snap and a flask, you'll need it.
yams
Try giving a non-wigan postcode when you buy a ticket, even if you are on the database - take some snap and a flask, you'll need it.
yams
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