Wigan MP blasts football league bosses over approving Latics' owners

Lisa Nandy has expressed anger and concern at Wigan Athletic being placed in administration in an open letter to the English Football League (EFL).
Lisa Nandy MPLisa Nandy MP
Lisa Nandy MP

Ms Nandy told the organisation's chief executive officer David Baldwin that she was completely unable to understand how the new ownership of Wigan Athletic could have been given the green light and demanded answers about the approval process.

The club was plunged into administration yesterday (Wednesday) when the owners pulled out just weeks after taking the helm.

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Ms Nandy also slammed the decision to impose a 12-point deduction on Wigan Athletic, saying the EFL was responsible for the situation but was penalising the club.

And she spoke of the shock and fury among Latics' supporters at the dramatic developments of the past 24 hours.

Ms Nandy said: "I am at a complete loss as to how, given the circumstances which are now coming to light, this ownership could have been approved.

"I am also appalled that having presided over this situation, a 12-point deduction will be given to Wigan Athletic which has further weakened our position at this critical moment. It is simply disgraceful that you have chosen to penalise our club for your own failures.

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"I cannot express strongly enough how angry people feel about this. This has been shocking news for our town and all Latics supporters.

"Can you tell me how this new ownership model came to be approved, what tests were set and why they were deemed to be met?

"I am also asking you, in the strongest terms, to reconsider the decision to penalise the club after failures of your making."

Ms Nandy said the current priority was to find a buyer for the club and spoke of its connection to the town and its residents.

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She said: "Our football club is an incredible club, which has been at the heart of our town both on and off the pitch for nearly 90 years. We are proud of it and we deserved much better than this.

"Fans deserve good governance that protects them and their club. This has been badly lacking and I am determined to ensure that this is never allowed to happen again."