Lawyers have been called into action to investigate Wigan Athletic’s descent into administration.The Championship outfit are facing a 12-point deduction after entering administration just weeks after changing owners.Local MP Lisa Nandy is one of many baffled with how Wigan could be in this situation barely a month after changing owners, saying the club are victim of a “major global evidence”.Evidence that this might be true came when EFL chairman Rick Parry was secretly recorded by a Wigan fan discussing rumours about their administration.In the footage, which surfaced on social media, Parry is heard discussing an alleged bet in the Philippines on the club’s relegation.It’s certainly a matter that warrants investigating.Nandy added: “I am at a complete loss as to how the new ownership model could have been approved by the EFL. There must be a full inquiry."
The sheer scale of the dodgy dealings at Wigan have been laid out in a shocking Twitter thread that claims the Latics have been “victim to one of the greatest sporting scandals of all time”.Posted by Twitter user marksparko, the thread examines how Wigan came to enter administration and suggests that their new owners, Hong Kong-based company Next Leader Fund (NLF), placed a bet on the Championship club to be relegated.However, Wigan’s recent form - they won six out of seven games between February and June - has lifted them to mid-table security.Worried that the Latics might avoid the drop, it is alleged that NLF placed Wigan into administration to ensure a 12-point deduction and relegation to League One.
It’s a truly incredible story. The thread has racked up more than 20,000 retweets and potentially highlights a major problem with the EFL.
Damning stuff, right?
An investigation will be carried out, with the speed from the change of ownership to Wigan entering administration raising eyebrows.
Joint administrator Gerald Krasner said, per BBC Sport: “Every administration I have been involved in had its peculiarities.
"But this is a first. Four weeks is a record that will stand for some time.
"We are aware of concerns that have been raised. The investigation won't go away. It will be done.
“Once I know we have saved the club and got non-disclosure letters out [to prospective buyers] - we're talking about two weeks - we will sit down with our lawyers to see if there is any litigation there that will be for the benefit of the creditors.”