Whelan: Foreign owners don't understand English football

Multi-millionaire Dave Whelan has put his money where his mouth is.

Over time, he has pumped more than £100million into his home town club, Wigan Athletic.

But the former Blackburn Rovers’ defender well ­remembers the day when he was slipped a fiver by Blackburn’s ultimate ­benefactor Jack Walker, “to see me get by.”

That was back in 1960 after Whelan broke his leg in Blackburn’s bruising Wembley FA Cup Final ­defeat to Wolves.

More than 50 years on, Whelan — now Chairman and benefactor at Wigan — is days away from his 75th birthday.

Despite his present day ­pre-occupation with the plight of both Wigan and Blackburn, he still recalls those tough times.

He said: “Jack Walker was just a Rovers’ fan back in those days, well before he pumped his millions into the struggling club.

“But when I faced hard times, with my leg in plaster for 10 months, he would come down to Ewood Park and have a cup of tea with me, and often slip me a fiver to help me out.

“I’ll always remember him for that kindness, and for what he did for my old club.”

After the broken leg finished his top-flight soccer career, Whelan went on to make his own millions.

He started out with a market stall, encouraged and ­mentored by Blackburn ­traders Bill and Albert Howarth. Then he built up a supermarket chain, which he sold to ­Morrison’s for £1.5m.

His next project was JJB Sports — sold for £193 million — before setting up the DW Sport and Fitness outfit, and ­pump-priming Wigan Athletic with his ­fortune.

When he sold his supermarkets, he gave the Howarth brothers £750,000 “for ­starting me off,” remembering the Jack Walker principle.

And in similar Walker style, he took over ailing Wigan, then in the old Fourth Division. He promised to take them to the Premier League within 10 years, and “a bit tongue in cheek” to keep them there for another 10 years.

Seven years on, in their purpose-built DW Stadium, they are still there.

As Whelan said: “We’re punching above our weight, and although we’re struggling, we’re still punching.”

This Saturday, Wigan play Lancashire neighbours Blackburn in what will be ­Latics boss Roberto Martinez’s 100th game in charge, with Whelan still valiantly backing his favourite soccer son to survive the dreaded drop. He wants Rovers to stay up too, and he has forthright — and sometimes unexpected — views on the ownership and future of clubs.

He said: “I may be the last of the old, community-based big backers of a local club. It’s harder nowadays for one man to generate £100million.

“It’s more difficult to make that kind of money, and it’s a big responsibility to look after a club. But I do have big ­reservations about foreign ownership. Many do not ­understand English football.

“At Manchester City and the like, it may be good for the fans, but how long will it last?

“Will someone spit their dummy out?

“It’s bound to happen somewhere, sooner or later.” And what of Blackburn’s ­ownership by the Indian-based chicken dynasty Venky’s?

Whelan added: “They don’t understand ­football. I just hope they ­understand the Blackburn Rovers’ history.

“But they are backing the manager and that’s a good thing, and I think they will stick at it.

“Indian people do. I hope the Blackburn fans have faith and patience.”

What of Wigan’s future?

He admitted: “It’s a miracle we’re still up here.

“We’ve the lowest income of any Premier League club, but we’ll break even this year. Whatever league we are in, we will ­survive.

“Determination and the will to succeed is the key.

“I’ve converted my cash injection into shares. It takes it off the balance sheet and there’s no responsibility of Wigan to pay it back. I’m not actively pursuing an exit strategy. I’m still fit and well but I am getting on.

“Maybe my grandson will take over.

“He’s mad keen on Wigan.”

*****

English soccer needs a real top-to-bottom shake-up.

And, according to Dave Whelan, that includes taking power from the FA and letting the Premier League run England’s national team. Whelan said: “The Premier League should definitely take over running the national team.

“Whether they will take it on is a big question.

“But there’s a lot of common sense in the Premier League.

“That doesn’t always get reflected in the Football Association. They have too many amateur people with too much to say. Yet they have influence and a voice.

“A professional game should be run by professionals.

“It’s a big change, but I believe it would be for the better.”