Wigan administrators claim Spanish bidder has agreed to buy cash-strapped League One outfit
WIGAN’S administrators say a Spanish bidder has agreed to buy the beleaguered League One outfit.
The Latics were relegated last season after being deducted 12 points for going into administration – just weeks after a takeover.
The development shocked football as the International Entertainment Corporation (IEC) had only handed over control to fellow Hong Kong-based company Next Leader Fund on May 29.
The resulting EFL penalty sent a Wigan side who had risen to mid-table plummeting back down – ending in demotion on the final day of the delayed campaign.
Fans raised nearly £700,000 to support the club and now an unnamed bidder has stumped up a “substantial” deposit, as well as agreeing to pay non-football creditors.
‘BIDDER HAS EXPERIENCE IN FOOTBALL’
That means Wigan avoiding an extra 15-point penalty.
A statement from the Latics’ administrators read: “We are now working with our lawyers and the bidder to produce all of the necessary paperwork to submit to the EFL so that successful transfer of the football share can be made at the earliest opportunity.
“The preferred bidder who has experience in football has made it plain that they do not wish for their details to be made public until such time as the sale is completed and we are respecting this anonymity.”
Paul Cook resigned at the end of last season after three years as manager, with John Sheridan taking charge for this term.
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Administrators Begbies Traynor set an August 31 deadline for the club to be sold – but that date passed without a takeover.
So the Latics needed permission from EFL chiefs to even start this league season.
But they won 2-1 at Portsmouth last Saturday for their first points from their three league games.