Takeover | Page 59 | Vital Football

Takeover

Interesting that the man in the photo is the one that some on here named as Mr Cheng! I guess that's the end of the hopes of super wealthy investors!!
 
The Chinese gentlemen who was sitting in the Directors box at the DW earlier in the season who many of us speculated could be Henry Cheng has been confired to be the IEC CEO, Yan Min Zhang - judging by the pics on the offical site. We'd heard that name before but I was under the impression that that the name of his colleague sitting next to him who had been to nearly every game without Zhang. I now assume that was Thomas Chan who is the companys Executive Director who i don't think was mentioned that much before.

So i think that competely puts to bed any possible link to the Cheng family.

Also interesting that the profile of the new ownership on the website doesn't include Dr Stanley who is the IEC owner. I suspect for all intensive purposes he wont be involved at all and it will be the 4 people mentioned in the below article (Zhang, the 2 Royles and Chan) who will be running the club.

https://www.wiganathletic.com/news/2018/november/in-profile-wigan-athletic-board-of-directors/
 
Well that's that then. Our Whexit is complete.
I suspect Joe Royle is on the board as an ally for Darren and Thomas Chan to keep an eye on things for the new owners.
Yan Ming Zhang CEO of IEC has said money will be made available and Premier League is our aim.

I thought it was a nice touch from Zhang to offer Whelan the position of Honourary President.
 
Some interesting quotes.

They are looking for a progressive approach rather throwing in loads of cash, though do state funds will be available. Interpret that as you will. Personally I'm all for that as long as there is money to invest over a long period, though for me it suggests, as feared, there isn't much to invest.

They state they need to understand how much is required to run the club. Personally I'd have hoped they'd have figured that out before deciding to buy us as the answer is far more than what the club actually generates.

They aren't looking to change the management structure. Fair enough, but no mention on changes as to how the recruitment will work.

They state they are in the entertainment business. I guess that rules out a return for Joyce and Caldwell then.

Nothing really on their plans for redevelopment in terms of stadium revamp, casino etc,

In regards the board. Darren Royles CV reads quite well, so hopefully we'll see some good decision making from him with that experience. I don't think he's run a chippy but still he seems more qualified than the previous incumbent. His Dad will bring his experience of the game to the table and Jackson the knowledge of the club and continuity that I think is required following the transition. Obviously IEC have their own people on there too for obvious reasons.

I have my reservations about the long term commitment and viability of their ownership but all we can do is embrace it and continue to support the club. Up the tics.
 
I'm just amazed it's happened at all ........................ Walgarth assured us that it never would, as nobody wanted us !

(Just kidding John ;) )
 
I’ve been quite impressed with IEC’s professionalism throughout the takeover process. I thought Mr. Yan Min Zhang also came across quite respectfully in his interview too - he’s clearly a very intelligent, well-versed and intuitive businessman with a great respect for the club and Whelan family’s achievements at the helm.

He doesn’t strike me as the type of person who is going to arrogantly barge in and exert a tyrannical control over the club’s operations like a number of football chairmen would probably do.

They’ve clearly done their research and seem to have some promising but realistic goals to help the club improve in both the short and the long term. It’d be easy for them to arrive and wax lyrical about themselves, but they seem to be humble enough to understand that it’s going to be a gradual process.

They’re not going to risk the club’s financial footing by throwing money at expensive players, which of course has traditionally been a stumbling block for overseas investors in English football who think money will solve all a club’s problems rather than a detailed strategic approach.

Obviously, we’ll have to see some results first before giving them too much praise, but I think the very least they deserve is support from the fans in the coming months.
 
It will be interesting to see if their first action as the new owners is to sit Nick down and put an improved contact before him. Maybe they will convince him they are leading the club back to the top division.
 
I’m here and taking all in......feeling quite excited at the moment. Mr.Zhang comes over very well on the video ( I wish I could speak Chinese as well as he speaks English!)
 
As always with these things there is a mix of emotions. Sad to see the end of by far our clubs most successful era under Whelan and filled with both trepidation about the uncertainty of having new owners but also excitement over what may be possible if they have a little more financial backing for Cook.

Everything they have done so far seems to be positive in recognising that they needed assistance from those with strong football knowledge and bringing in two quality individuals in the Royles to do that. But it is early days and we can really do nothing more but hope for the best and do what we as Wigan fans should always do - support the manager and the players and the club that we love.

Up the Tics always, no matter what the future holds.
 
that Zhang chaps seems a nice guy, hope everything works out for the Club, exciting times but understandable that people Will reserve judgement, nothing wrong with the things Zhang said though, hope we get a proper press conference for Darren though considering he's chairman on behalf of IEC
 
So who‘s Chan?

Any pictures of him.

I could be wrong but ealier in this thread when we were debating if Zhang was Henry Cheng - the man to his left i think is most likely Chan.

Ignore the red circle, that was already on the photo.

43644bc0-583c-4b01-8e8d-110887e2f217-jpeg.28229
 
I could be wrong but ealier in this thread when we were debating if Zhang was Henry Cheng - the man to his left i think is most likely Chan.

Ignore the red circle, that was already on the photo.

43644bc0-583c-4b01-8e8d-110887e2f217-jpeg.28229

I hope we carry on seeing big Dave and his clan at games for a long time to come. Legend, in my book.
 
I was also pleased to see Whelan given the life time president title, it means very little in reality but after all he's done it's fitting he has been given such a title.

With Whelan so often living abroad i wouldn't expect to see him there much moving forward, but it will be intersting to see if Sharpe turns up much in the coming weeks as you can tell from the interviews he was very disapointed to be giving up his role as Chairman. I can imagine Sharpe wont lose any love for the club but it might also be hard for him to still come along as a spectator when he used to run the place.

Interesting point from the video with 'Melvin' Zhang was he said they had been looking to buy a British club for a number of years and had visited other clubs before deciding we were the best option for them. We may never find out but it would be facinating to know what other clubs they were looking into.
 
I was also pleased to see Whelan given the life time president title, it means very little in reality but after all he's done it's fitting he has been given such a title.

With Whelan so often living abroad i wouldn't expect to see him there much moving forward, but it will be intersting to see if Sharpe turns up much in the coming weeks as you can tell from the interviews he was very disapointed to be giving up his role as Chairman. I can imagine Sharpe wont lose any love for the club but it might also be hard for him to still come along as a spectator when he used to run the place.

Interesting point from the video with 'Melvin' Zhang was he said they had been looking to buy a British club for a number of years and had visited other clubs before deciding we were the best option for them. We may never find out but it would be facinating to know what other clubs they were looking into.
Read one was Ipswich.
 
Couple of changes have now appeared on the Companies House website since the takeover.
The accounts are still due by 28th February ... will those ordinary non voting shareholders get the usual document ?

Wigan Athletic Holdings Limited is now known as:
IEC Wigan Athletic Holdings Limited


Board members confirmed along with resignations
https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/00270043/officers

Charges paid up
https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/00270043/filing-history
https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/03477413/filing-history