Wigan born billionaire Mike Danson takes control of Wigan Athletic

Wigan Athletic has been sold to a new company backed by Wigan born billionaire businessman Mike Danson.

The club says Danson's company has made a 100% acquisition of the club and all requisite clearances have been obtained by the EFL.

A new board, along with a Chief Executive of the Club will be announced in due course.

First Team Manager Shaun Maloney will remain at the club.

All players and staff are also being paid immediately along with other creditors.

Only a few days ago, HMRC requested a winding up order against Wigan Athletic over unpaid taxes, throwing the club into further turmoil, so this will be a huge relief for fans, players and staff.

It's the second time in two years the club has been saved.

Mike Danson, who was born in Wigan and grew up in Bury has released a statement where he talks about his "delight" over the deal.

"I am delighted to become involved in Wigan Athletic Football Club.

"I was born in Wigan, I grew up locally and the community of the town is close to my heart.

“I want to recognise that the Club has a hugely important part to play in the local community, not just for players, but for fans, employees and all its suppliers, business partners and numerous community groups.

"We have worked hard to provide the EFL with a realistic financial plan to stabilise operations.

"We look forward to a fresh start for the Club and planning for the upcoming season."

Wigan Athletic First Team Manager, Shaun Maloney added: "This news is fantastic for everyone associated with the Football Club and the town of Wigan.

"I want to pay thanks to Mr Danson and his team for all their hard work and perseverance. His vision and passion for the community have resonated strongly with all of us.

"I also want to pay tribute to the staff, supporters and of course, the players that have stuck with us through one of the Club’s most difficult times.

"We are all extremely confident of a sustainable and stable future and we are now excited to prepare for the 2023/24 season and beyond.”

Wigan MP Lisa Nandy has released a statement about the takeover, calling it a "significant relief" after the last few months which she says have been an "ordeal for the fans, staff and players".

She also said: "this is now the second time in two years our club has had to fight for survival and that is unacceptable........

"I hope our experience and that of so many other clubs will be a wake-up call to the Government to recognise the current system is completely unjust and unsustainable, and finally implement the full recommendations of the fan led review of football without any more delay".

Who is Mike Danson?

Mike Danson was born in Wigan and raised in the nearby town of Bury. He attended Bolton Grammar school and Oxford University, where he received a Master of Arts degree, and then became a management consultant.

The Times ranks him as the 128th richest person in the UK with an estimated worth of £1.17 billion

In 1990 he founded Datamonitor, an online information company.

A decade later it was floated on the London Stock Exchange, and in 2007 it was sold to Informa for £507 million.

Meanwhile, Danson went on to co-found the data analytics and consulting company GlobalData, of which he is currently CEO and an executive director.

This company then acquired the Datamonitor’s Financial, Consumer, MarketLine and Verdict businesses from Informa in 2015 for just £25 million, making a gigantic profit.

In 2020 Danson bought a 25 per cent stage in Wigan Warriors, who share the DW Stadium with the Latics.

Danson has also ventured into the world of philanthropy. In 2010 he started The Danson Foundation, a charity set up with a donation of £10 million.

Run his wife Helen, the Foundation helps fund education for individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds. It also arranges 30 to 40 internships each year at companies Danson owns or is associated with.

Mike Danson'a Progressive Media Group, which was founded in 2007, owns the New Statesman and Press Gazette media brands.

The New Statesmen is a political magazine that has been around for more than 100 years, while Press Gazette is the industry magazine for journalists.

Despite a history in publishing Danson, who lives in London and owns Michael Jackson’s former New York mansion, doesn’t like the limelight.

In 2010 The Times wrote: "He is not a typical media mogul. Uncomfortable in interviews and quietly spoken."

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