Latics' administration will not impact on Wigan Warriors' use of DW Stadium

And the 25,000-seater stadium can not be sold off to developers due to a "tight" agreement with Wigan Council, which owns the freehold of the land.

Warriors have played at the DW since the end of 1999 and after a coronavirus-impacted campaign, are pencilled in to return to the venue in September or October.

Paul Stanley, one of the joint administrators of Begbies Traynor, said: "I don't see any change to that.

"I've spoken to the council, the way they explained it is they own the land, the football club has the first lease on the land and the rugby club is a tenant of the football club.

"I'm bound by everything the company is bound by. I'm also an administrator of the stadium company and it's in my interest - and everyone's interest - that they have a tenant in there halving the cost of running a stadium."

He explained that former owner Dave Whelan ensured the stadium could not be sold for development before leaving his tenure as Wigan Athletic owner.

""I think when Bury went, there were a lot of speculators trying to buy the land to put housing on, and it came out there's a covenant on," continued Stanley.

"I asked the council representative this morning specifically because my job is not made easier if I'm inundated with calls from property developers trying to put another supermarket or something on there. "And the council were very clear that there were strong covenants which were made even stronger when the club was sold by Dave Whelan, that they tightened that up, they were nervous that if a non-local owned it they might just be a property developer.

"They told me it's only got a covenant for rugby and football, so if you want to change that you have to get permission from the council, because they own the freehold.

"And the guys at the council seem really supportive, they want a football club in the town, as does everyone in the town."