Thursday is D-Day for Wigan Athletic

Thursday looks set to be a potentially pivotal day in the history of Wigan Athletic, as the EFL sits down with the administrators, the Supporters Club and the Spanish bidders who are hoping to see their takeover rubber-stamped.
Wigan Athletic's DW StadiumWigan Athletic's DW Stadium
Wigan Athletic's DW Stadium

The Spanish consortium, fronted by London-based Jose Miguel Garrido Cristo, saw their offer accepted by Begbies Traynor on September 30.

The potential new owners have spent the last month getting all the necessary information over to the EFL to satisfy the infamous Owners and Directors’ Test.

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The EFL received all of the paperwork at the end of last week, although obviously the governing body has had other pressing matters to contend with, in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The meeting, set to start at 2pm, will include the unnamed Spanish duo behind the takeover, who will speak on Zoom from their homeland via a translator.

Sources close to the group say they are confident the deal will be given the green light, and that the necessary funds are ready to be transferred at the click of a mouse.

The Spanish bidders have been tight-lipped on their plans up to this point, due to the non-disclosure agreements involved.

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But it’s understood they plan on using a similar model used on clubs in their homeland, which have produced six promotions, and two relegations, in the last decade.

They will not be throwing money at a quick-fix, but will cut their cloth accordingly to ensure a solid financial base from which to build.

The investors have been looking to take over a club in England for the last four years, but only now have found one to tick all four of their criteria.

Those are believed to be a club with a history – including the famous 2013 FA Cup triumph – one with sufficiently strong infrastructure, positioned in League One, and with a successful Academy.

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A flourishing Academy was always seen as being central to the club's future in the post-Whelan era - even more so given the precarious economic times - but would require continued investment.

It’s also understood the investors are looking at the club as a project that could last ‘15-20-25 years’, which would be a breath of fresh air on the back of the carnage created by IEC and NLF which led to administration on July 1.

The Spaniards say they remain open to the involvement of the Supporters Club – who have raised around £800,000 to save the club – although an agreement has not been reached as yet.

Depending on the outcome of Thursday’s hearing, a couple of other parties remain in the wings for the chance to pounce – one of them believed to involve former executive chairman Darren Royle.

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