Whelan Sells Wigan To Harlequins Owner

Wigan Warriors rugby league club owner Dave Whelan has followed through with his
decision to sell the club, agreeing a deal with Ian Lenagan, chairman of rival
team Harlequins, for 89% of the stakeholding.

As a result of the deal which takes effect on 1st December, the sport’s
governing body the Rugby Football League has given Lenagan two years to find a
buyer for his 65% stake in Harlequins, although the latter has insisted he will
not sell unless he was convinced the club was in safe hands.

The Warriors, who have acquired an option to remain at the JJB stadium up to
2050, have already bid farewell to former chairman Maurice Lindsay.

Lindsay announced in August that he would step down as chairman at the end of
the season and retire after two stints in charge spanning almost 30 years, a
move that prompted Whelan to put the club up for sale.

Lenagan, a successful theatre producer and chairman of the Sports Cafe chain,
became chairman and majority shareholder of Harlequins two years ago.

But the multi-millionaire, whose software company Workplace Systems plc
floated on the Stock Exchange in 2000, was born and raised in Wigan and has
remained a Wigan fan despite his involvement with Quins.

He stated: “I couldn’t take over Wigan and dump Quins. But in terms of
corporate governance, it’s obviously nonsense to have a person controlling more
than one club so the RFL have made it clear that if I control Wigan, I cannot
control Harlequins.

‘I don’t want a forced sale. As soon as I find a good buyer who has the
future of Harlequins at heart, then I’ll do it.

‘I’ve already had two people onto me who want to become involved. Harlequins
is a great name, London is a great location and the franchise should be a cert.
You need London as a venue for rugby league.’