Wigan Athletic ownership group reaches agreement with 'new buyer' to sell club

Wigan Athletic have stated that a deal has been agreed to sell the club, according to the current ownership group.

The Latics will start the 2023-24 season on minus eight points in League One after a punishment from the EFL over failure to pay wages. However, Wigan's current owners said on Sunday that a new buyer has been found. The deal will require EFL approval and no details of the prospective buyer were given.

A club statement said: “A deal has been agreed in principle for the sale of Wigan Athletic Football Club to a prospective new buyer - subject to EFL approval. The prospective new owners have committed to resolving all outstanding liabilities at the earliest opportunity. Further updates on this process will follow in due course.”

READ: Wigan Athletic fail to pay players for fifth time this season

Prior to Sunday’s announcement, directors Tom Markham and Oliver Gottmann resigned over growing concerns about the financial state of the club. The pair explained their decision had come after money “promised by the ownership group” that was due to be paid on June 2 had not materialised.

The resignations of Markham and Gottmann meant only chairman Talal Al Hammad remains from the initial board of directors that was formed when the club came out of administration in 2021. Owner Abdulrahman Al-Jasmi had given manager Shaun Maloney assurances over funds during a meeting last month. However, on Friday, supporters’ groups had called for the ownership group to put Wigan up for sale due to fears over the future of the club.