Wigan takeover confirmed: Phoenix Limited to become new owners
- Phoenix 2021 Limited, a UK-based company owned by Mr Abdulrahman Al-Jasmi will become the new owner of the club subject to EFL Board approval
- Mr Talal Al-Hammad will become Chairman of Wigan Athletic
- News is a massive relief for Wigan who were facing the prospect of liquidation if a new owner was not found
The news that Wigan fans have been waiting for has finally arrived, after nine months in administration a new owner has been found.
Phoenix 2021 Ltd, a UK-based company owned by Abdulrahman Al-Jasmi, will become the new owner of the club subject to EFL board approval.
The company has been in negotiations with administrators from Begbies Traynor over the purchase of Wigan Athletic Football Club for some time now, with the negotiations being confirmed by Paul Stanley who spoke to the Northern Quota in February 2021.
It is anticipated that the EFL approval and all other ownership-transferral matters will be completed by 31 March at the latest.
Mr Talal Al-Hammad, the incoming chairman of Wigan Athletic, confirmed the news on his personal twitter account writing;
“I am pleased to announce we have finally signed the Purchase Agreement for Wigan Athletic Football Club, between Phoenix 2021 and the Joint Administrators,”
#wafc pic.twitter.com/Gzq43s3go9
— Talal Al Hammad (@Talalalhammad32) March 15, 2021
Talal Al-Hammad has also made a statement on the Wigan’s club website saying: “To Latics fans everywhere, we can only guess at the amount of hurt and distress you have felt since the Club entered administration and it is now our focus to stabilise its future and to illustrate why we believe we are the best ownership group for the Club. We know that we will have to earn your trust through actions rather than words.
“The support and assistance we have received from Caroline Molyneux at the Supporters Club, David Molyneux and Alison McKenzie-Folan at Wigan Council and all their colleagues, has been outstanding and extremely encouraging for the Club’s future, which is one that we wholeheartedly share and are excited about.”
The club has been in administration since July 2020 and Wigan were relegated to League One as a direct consequence of the 12-point deduction imposed. EFL rules prevent any club from starting successive seasons in administration, so time had been running out for Wigan to find a new owner.
The news will be a welcome relief to Wigan Athletic supporters who have been through hell and back this season. After previous takeover deals collapsed it was feared that Wigan would be liquated and cease to exist.
In September 2020 an agreement was reached to sell the club, stadium and training ground to Spanish businessman Jose Miguel Garrido Cristo.
However, the deal fell apart in early January when the offer was reduced by 50 per cent. That would have left the club unable to pay its creditors and so trigger a further 15-point deduction that would effectively relegate the club to League Two. Talks with the Spanish buyers were broken off on 5 January.
The news is a massive boost to the club as they travel to AFC Wimbledon for a relegation six pointer on Tuesday night.