Running to help save Wigan Athletic
Donation protected
From Saturday 4th July, I will aim to run 50 miles over the next fortnight to try and raise money to play a small part in help save Wigan Athletic.
As many will know, the club was placed into administration yesterday which came as a very nasty shock to it's loyal fanbase, the clubs staff and the local community that it has served so well over the years. Up until November 2018, the club was run by the Whelan family and had always been well run and often making an annual profit. On first glance, you will be forgiven for thinking that the club is an early footballing victim of the coronavirus crisis. It may be true that this has had an impact but the story is far more complex than that. It's highly likely that the club have fallen victim to a money laundering scandal and have been hugely let down by the English Football League in the handling of the recent change of ownership.
To compile the misery, the club are set to be deducted 12 points which will make it very difficult to survive relegation into the third tier of English Football which will only make harder finding a suitable buyer for the club. Based on the last 20 games of the season, the team would lie 2nd in the table showing just how unjust the relegation would be.
The time will come for a full investigation of the horrendous circumstances the club find themselves in. The thought of relegation in some ways is the least of the worries right now - being able to support a football club next season and to see the long term future of the club more secure is paramount. Any money that I raise will be a drop in the ocean for what's needed, I have a small target and any donation is not too small. But as the administrators said earlier, every little will help and private fundraising has been encouraged and will be held in a secure ring - fenced account to help the club.
Wigan Athletic is a small, family club but is a special one. I've been watching the club since I was 6 years old, seen them up and down the country, seen them play in all four divisions of the football league and seen them famously win the FA cup at Wembley. The fans, staff, players and the local community do not deserve what has happened to them, it is a horrifying story and a football fans worst nightmare.
As many will know, the club was placed into administration yesterday which came as a very nasty shock to it's loyal fanbase, the clubs staff and the local community that it has served so well over the years. Up until November 2018, the club was run by the Whelan family and had always been well run and often making an annual profit. On first glance, you will be forgiven for thinking that the club is an early footballing victim of the coronavirus crisis. It may be true that this has had an impact but the story is far more complex than that. It's highly likely that the club have fallen victim to a money laundering scandal and have been hugely let down by the English Football League in the handling of the recent change of ownership.
To compile the misery, the club are set to be deducted 12 points which will make it very difficult to survive relegation into the third tier of English Football which will only make harder finding a suitable buyer for the club. Based on the last 20 games of the season, the team would lie 2nd in the table showing just how unjust the relegation would be.
The time will come for a full investigation of the horrendous circumstances the club find themselves in. The thought of relegation in some ways is the least of the worries right now - being able to support a football club next season and to see the long term future of the club more secure is paramount. Any money that I raise will be a drop in the ocean for what's needed, I have a small target and any donation is not too small. But as the administrators said earlier, every little will help and private fundraising has been encouraged and will be held in a secure ring - fenced account to help the club.
Wigan Athletic is a small, family club but is a special one. I've been watching the club since I was 6 years old, seen them up and down the country, seen them play in all four divisions of the football league and seen them famously win the FA cup at Wembley. The fans, staff, players and the local community do not deserve what has happened to them, it is a horrifying story and a football fans worst nightmare.
Organizer
George Gordon
Organizer