Whelan is the cause behind it all. Without Whelan I wouldn't mind Latics, still wouldn't support them though.

I fully expect the divide to grow until it reaches boiling point.

I have evidence to back you up there, due to a recent University coursework piece.

I did a study on the JJB and found that although on average Latics had the higher growth in attendances since the JJB opened, Wigan RL still have the average higher attendances. Predictably Latics attendances grew in the 2006/07 season when they were promoted but instead of growing, they have declined. Whereas the Warriors attendances are steadily increasing.

I said it once and I'll say it again, when/if Whelan goes, the great divide between the town will reduce drastically and maybe then both teams attendances will steadily increase, which IMO can only be a good thing.

Wigan Atheletic Attendances
Season Attendance
2000/2001 6774
2001/2002 5771
2002/2003 7283
2003/2004 9530
2004/2005 11155
2005/2006 20904
2006/2007 18159
2007/2008 19046

Total Attendance Over 8 Seasons 98622

Total Average Attendance 12327.75


Wigan Warriors Attendances
Season Attendance
2000 10536
2001 11334
2002 10436
2003 10387
2004 12434
2005 13894
2006 14464
2007 16039
2008 14505


Total Attendance Over 9 Seasons 114029

Total Average Attendance 12669.89

With regards to the shop at the stadium, as this is what the thread is about, I agree 100% that Latics should have a shop within the stadium and it is about time. But Wigan RL should also have a shop. There is absolutely no reason why the shop cannot be a dual purpose shop. Well, probably the only reason being that DW does not want anything to do with the rugby club. Does he not realise that the continous growing ill feeling will hurt Latics more than the rugby? People who would consider going to Latics games who are rugby fans may not go because of the way the Rugby club is being treated.

for some strange reason i keep getting e-mails from latics and it says they are having a store in the ground with the support from the JJB sports company.. will it be put on hold when JJB folds?...cos sadly for the many employed there its looking that way. they have been given a 2 week breathing space on their loan by the bank.

also if JJb goes bankrupt will they change the name of the stadium.......the dave whelan stadium by any chance

Can I have your crystal ball please?

Great comments Andy,you seem to be one of the few on here with a reasonable view of events.
.

Didn't we have a Warriors Merchandise shop in the Town centre (in Marketgate) that lasted about 5 minutes ???

What's the point of ressurecting a failed idea ?.......As always I expect Whelan will be the obstacle, but a shared shop at the ground has to be the best way forward, as is the continued sharing of the ground itself. There is no other financial model that will ever make sense to BOTH clubs ....we have to get over this constant adolescent name calling and wittering on about relative sizes of crowds.

The long term benefit of both clubs, rests on a shared stadium , where a reasonable element of each club's support, feel happy to go and support the other side.....there are a few knocking about now but it needs to grow.

Although the continued presence of one man makes this highly unlikely in the short term.......and once again I'm not thinking of the Play off rearrangement , I happen to know (not suspect) DW was "put up against the wall" by the powers that be in the Prem League to guarantee that the football pitch wasn't compromised this year .....and whilst he's "Billy Big Time" round here ....He's strictly small fry amongst the big time gangsters and dictators that rule the roost in Football.........His despicable treatment of a former employee who is sadly no longer with us....that's the prime reason behind my distaste for the man, and as long as he's around the clubs and the supporters will not be able to move closer together.

orrell lad
i thought it was common knowledge that JJb is suffering finacial difficulties cos they lost loads of money in the icelandic banks crash.

also whelan has said in papers he is looking for a company who can pay him to have the stadium named after their company...a bit like shirt sponsorship.........i think lenegan should coff up the cash and we could call it the WIGAN RUGBY LEAGUE STADIUM......that would be nice

Disappointing lack of historical knowledge there from IL.

"The Wigan Football Club" is THE HISTORIC NAME OF OUR CLUB. Just like Hull FC, Wigan FC was so called because the rugby club was founded at a time when "football" meant either rugby or association football and the first clubs to set up were rugby clubs. The association football clubs that came along later had to call themselves something else - eg. Hull City, Oldham Athletic Football Club, Rochdale Association Football Club - because the rugby football clubs got there first.

(I once had the misfortune of watching Rugby Lions (then in rah-rah's NL1) playing onion a few years ago, in the town whose school gave rugby its name. The sign above the clubhouse gives that club's official name - "The Rugby Football Club" - which is quite impressive, though of course they play the dull version of rugby.)

Anyway, back to the topic. I would rather gouge my own eyes out with a spoon than make a cheque out to Wigan AFC.