Wigan Athletic starlet sale is a 'vital moment towards the club’s survival'

Jensen Weir will head off to the Premier League and Brighton as a 'great leader and role model for other Wigan Athletic academy players to follow'.
Gregor Rioch with Jensen Weir at Christopher ParkGregor Rioch with Jensen Weir at Christopher Park
Gregor Rioch with Jensen Weir at Christopher Park

That's the view of Latics academy manager Gregor Rioch, for whom the £500,000 sale - which effectively paid the club's wages this month - is a bittersweet combination of immense pride and huge sadness.

“On and off the field, Jensen has been an outstanding academy graduate throughout his time at Wigan Athletic," said Rioch.

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“From being the club’s youngest ever first team player at just 15 years of age to captaining his country at youth level, he has shown outstanding promise to reach the very top level.

"Jensen has become a great leader and role model for other academy players to follow.

“While we are going through the most difficult period of the club’s history, it is well documented the sale of Jensen will allow us time to hopefully build a new future.

"With this in mind, Jensen won’t necessarily be remembered by our supporters for his few appearances on the pitch, but for a vital moment towards the club’s survival.

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“On behalf of all the staff at the academy who have watched Jensen flourish over the years, we wish him and his family the very best of luck in their future.

"We are honoured and very proud to have been a part of Jensen’s footballing journey.”

The club are pressing ahead with an appeal against the 12-point penalty, with the hearing to be held on July 31.

They are doing so even though they will bear the legal costs of both sides, win or lose, which administrator Gerald Krasner said could be as high as £500,000.

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Administrators announced on Wednesday that a preferred bidder had been identified to take over the club.

The bidder must confirm by noon on Thursday that the funds for the acquisition are being held by their lawyers, and also provide a £100,000 bond which will be kept by the administrators to cover legal costs if the bidder withdraws.

If those criteria are met, contracts would be exchanged on July 31 with the deal then subject to the bidder passing the English Football League's owners' and directors' test.

It was announced that the club had been placed in administration on July 1, less than a month after a change of ownership.

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Next Leader Fund took control of the club in June, replacing the International Entertainment Corporation which had been owners since November 2018.

The owner of the Next Leader Fund, Au Yeung Wai Kay, has agreed to be interviewed by the administrators as part of their investigation into what happened at the club.