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Dave Whelan steps down as Wigan chairman

Dave Whelan has resigned as chairman of Wigan Athletic and appointed his 23-year-old grandson, David Sharpe, as his successor.

Whelan has stepped down as Wigan chairman. Credit: PA

Whelan steps down after 20 years with the club nine points adrift from safety in the Championship and facing up to relegation into England's third tier.

In December 2014, he was banned for six weeks by the FA and fined £50,000 for racist comments he made about Jewish and Chinese people.

A club statement confirmed:

Mr Whelan’s grandson David Sharpe will be formally elected as new Chairman of Wigan Athletic by the Board of Directors at a date to be confirmed soon, and will be assisted in the running of the club by Chief Executive Jonathan Jackson.

– Wigan club statement