If the Latics' fans wondered why former boss, and local legend, Joe Royle didn't buy their club he has finally revealed why he joined up with the Chinese consortium that has taken over Wigan Athletic. Joe is now a director and his son Darren has been appointed executive chairman.
Big Joe revealed, “We [him and his son] wanted to buy a football club and looked at Latics before Abdallah Lemsagan bought it, but it was complex financially and not quite right for us. Wigan came on to the scene with Dave Whelan ready to retire. They had a relatively new stadium, which includes a restaurant, and a training ground and everything stacked up for them. Paul Cook [manager] has a good record of three promotions in five years with three clubs. You also have to bear in mind we are playing against sides with four, five and six times our wage bill. They [owners] realise it is not an overnight project. They want to build slowly before moving forward. It is everyone’s dream to be in the Premier League and the fact we did it at Oldham and the likes of Bournemouth, Watford and Brighton have achieved it proves it is not an unrealistic dream.”