Whelan steps down as Latics chairman

WIGAN Athletic chairman Dave Whelan has stepped down from the helm of the Championship club.

Whelan, 78, will continue as owner, but has installed his 23-year-old grandson David Sharpe to run the club.

He took over the Latics 20 years ago and led the club from the fourth tier of English football to the Premier League.

But controversy marred his reign in December when he was banned from football-related activity for six weeks and fined £50,000 for making allegedly racist remarks in a newspaper.

He apologised but denied the comments he was quoted as making were racist. An FA Disciplinary Commission said it was satisfied he was not a racist after Whelan said he would resign as chairman if he was found guilty of “being a racist”.

Sharpe was appointed to the Wigan board as a director in December will be formally unveiled as the new chairman on a date yet to be announced.

Wigan were bottom of the old Fourth Division when Whelan bought the club but the club won four promotions in 10 years to reach the top flight – where they stayed for eight years. The club is currently 23rd in the Championship.

In a club statement, he said: “The time has now come to hand over the reins.”
 
“I am approaching 80 years old and spend an increasingly long time abroad, and cannot make it to games. It is a decision I have been mulling over for some years and I believe David is now ready.

“Contrary to some suggestions, there are no plans to sell the club, which will remain in family hands and I have every confidence that David, along with chief executive Jonathan Jackson, will lead us forwards with wisdom.”

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