Wigan Athletic: Wigan Warriors owner Ian Lenagan announces intention to buy Super League side’s beleaguered neighbours
The owner of Wigan Warriors has announced he is leading a bid to buy the Super League side's beleaguered footballing neighbours Wigan Athletic and has notified administrators of his interest.
The Latics were plunged into financial meltdown last week when they were placed in administration, having only changed hands last month.
Local MP Lisa Nandy has written to the government and the English Football League asking for an inquiry as the 2013 FA Cup winners stare down the barrel.
The immediate priority for administrators is finding a buyer and Warriors owner Ian Lenagan, along with Darryl Eales and Gary Speakman, is keen to save the Championship club.
A statement read: "Being born and bred in Wigan, Ian Lenagan and Gary Speakman understand what both clubs mean to the local community.
"We strongly believe that Wigan Athletic is better being locally-owned.
"As sustainability and ownership of the stadium is equally important to both clubs, we are currently working with our longstanding advisers KPMG and talking to external parties.
"Our intention is to identify other investors quickly and start due diligence on the football club with the intention of making a bid in due course.
"We have made the administrators aware of our interest and hope to explore this with them further over the days ahead.
"Wigan Warriors and Wigan Athletic are both local sporting institutions and it is our belief that this is a unique opportunity here to bring the ownership of these two great clubs together under one roof, each operating independently as before, but under a Wigan Sporting Partnership banner.
"It is envisaged that each club would retain all its training grounds, management and facilities."
Lenagan was previously chairman at League One play-off finalists Oxford and recently spent a term as EFL chairman, having replaced Greg Clarke in the role in 2016.
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The Latics were placed in administration on July 1, just a matter of weeks after the club changed Hong Kong-based owners.
A 12-point penalty would send them to the bottom of the English second tier. Wigan, who currently lie 16th in the table, are six points above the relegation zone with five games remaining.
Should the Latics finish in the bottom three, the penalty would be applied at the start of the 2020/21 campaign.
Wigan take on Mark Warburton's QPR at the DW Stadium on Wednesday night.
Meanwhile, Wigan administrator Paul Stanley revealed on talkSPORT's White and Sawyer show on Tuesday morning that 30 investors are interested in buying Wigan.
"Over 30 non-disclosure agreements have gone out," he said. "They've been asked to provide proof of funding in a UK bank of over £10m. People can't raise that money overnight."