Football finance expert Kieran Maguire has recently discussed the latest regarding the administration of Wigan Athletic.
According to a recent report by The Athletic, Wigan’s administrators have rejected a second offer to purchase the League One club from Norman Smurthwaite.
The former Port Vale owner had initially offered £3.3m to purchase the DW Stadium club, which is supposedly £700,000 below the asking price.
However, Smurthwaite withdrew his initial offer as he felt the club was not worth the touted fee before his second offer of £3m was rejected by the administrators.
So, in the latest episode of The Price of Football podcast, Maguire discussed Smurthwaite and his offer to purchase Wigan.
He said: “He’s offered less money on the grounds – my understanding is – that the administrators have sold a couple of players in the intervening period and, therefore, the club is worth less.
“I don’t think he was over pleased that they’d also sold the training ground, so you’ve got to wonder, what is he getting? I appreciate there [are] issues to do with the DW Stadium and the existing squad.
“Looking at social media, Port Vale fans – they are very much warning Wigan fans off him. I think there was a very poor relationship.
“I think their view – of the fans of Port Vale who are very impassioned on this and clearly, they do have a degree of wariness about Norman Smurthwaite – is you’re going out of the frying pan into the fire and he’s not good news for the club.”
TIF Thoughts…
As can be seen in what Maguire had to say, he seems to believe that there are some doubts over whether Smurthwaite would be an appropriate owner for Wigan.
Would you want Norman Smurthwaite owning the club?
No, I don't think so
Yes, he seems alright
In The Athletic’s report, it is claimed that the offer from Smurthwaite was ‘quickly dismissed’ and that perhaps suggests the administrators are optimistic of a bid arriving that will save the club from the threat of liquidation.
So, hopefully, for the supporters of the North West club, a bidder willing to meet the £4m asking price comes forward in the near future.