Wigan Athletic finished sixth place in their inaugural League campaign, six points shy of promotion and playing to an average crowd of 6,701. Two further top-half finishes followed, though an underwhelming 1980-81 campaign nearly resulted in relegation.
Dave Whelan’s Takeover
Dave Whelan of Wigan bought the club in 1995 to reach the Premier League ten years later, and this dream has come true! They now play at the DW Stadium alongside rugby league side Wigan Warriors.
History
Wigan Athletic FC initially used an emblem derived from Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council’s coat of arms. This emblem was replaced in 1989 with a more straightforward badge representing Wigan.
In their inaugural year in the Football League’s Third Division (the 1980-81 campaign), Wigan Latics finished sixth with an average attendance of 6,701, earning them sixth-place status overall and two more top-half finishes over the following decade. Unfortunately, Larry Lloyd was fired early during 1981-82 due to an unexpectedly weak season resulting in their relegation that only lasted one season.
Dave Whelan’s Leadership
Dave Whelan made his fortune through the JJB Sports Wear retail chain and set about revitalizing the squad after purchasing it in February 1995. A new 25,000-capacity home ground – The DW Stadium – opened to house both Wigan Warriors and Wigan Athletic in 1999.
Managers
Maloney, an ex-SPFA and Wigan Athletic player, boasts extensive top-flight, European, and international experience as a manager. He began coaching Celtic’s B Team before taking charge of Belgium’s men’s national side.
Shaun Maloney took over as manager for the Latics on 28 January 2023 after only nine games under Kolo Toure, who was let go due to indifferent results against Queens Park Rangers, Stoke City, and Millwall.
Dave Whelan was the multi-millionaire founder and chairman who propelled the club from Division 3 into the Premier League for eight seasons, providing them with their new home at DW Stadium and taking them to an FA Cup Final appearance in 2013.
Phoenix 2021 Limited of Bahrain purchased the club in March 2020. Unfortunately, however, English Football League officials deducted points due to the failure by management to pay player wages on time during March.
Players
After failing to regain election in 1950, Wigan switched leagues and found immediate success in Lancashire Combination. Following World War II-related clothing shortages, the club adopted blue and white striped shirts – which would remain its colors throughout.
Dave Whelan purchased Latics FC in 1995 to reach the Premier League, and two years later, the Latics won Division Three on their last day, thanks mainly to Graeme Jones’ club-record 31 league goals.
In 2000, Wigan Warriors moved into their current 25,000-seater stadium at JJB Stadium – sharing it with local rugby league team Wigan Warriors as part of Whelan’s strategy to modernize and equalize with rival clubs – at which point the club began turning profits – something it continues to do today.
Financials
In February 1995, local millionaire Dave Whelan purchased JJB Sports with plans of taking it into the Premier League, an achievement which he managed to do ten years later.
He then hired managers like Larry Lloyd and Roy Hamilton to guide the club through Division Three competition. Under their watchful gaze, two top-half finishes were also accomplished during this era.
Wigan struggled under Bruce Rioch as they were relegated from the Premier League into the Championship and ultimately fell. To remedy this, a new stadium and an improved squad opened in the following season.
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