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Wigan re-name JJB Stadium after David Whelan’s new company
WIGAN confirmed today the JJB Stadium will be renamed the DW Stadium – after its chairman Dave Whelan.
The 72-year-old's latest business DW Sports Fitness.com will take over the naming rights of the stadium from next season.
Whelan, who played for Blackburn and Crewe, took over the club in 1995 and guided the club to the Premier League.
He said: “The contract for naming rights for the stadium was for a duration of 10 years and that dates comes around in August.
“The JJB Stadium has made the town of Wigan known all over the world and we can now look forward to a whole new era as the DW Stadium.”
Whelan also made clear his intentions to make the club debt-free in the next 18 months.
He added: “We have debts of about £15million now and I’m going to see if I can get that down to zero over the next 12 to 18 months.
“It is not easy but I need the support of Wigan people to do it.”
The club are currently 7th in the League, seven points adrift of a UEFA cup place.