| Dave Whelan has spoke about the reasons for the Wigan Warriors up-rooting to Widnes on Friday as the JJB Stadium is unavailable due to the Latics' home game with Sunderland the following day. |
The decision has caused a great deal of uproar amoungst Warriors fans with Wigan Athletic supporters delighted, many hoping the move could become permanent.
Mr Whelan however has claimed that a lack of notice is the main reason behind the problem.
He is quoted in the Wigan Observer: "It's not the ideal situation to have a Premier League fixture taking place hours after a rugby match.
"We've had it before and it took weeks of planning, we had to arrange people to work all night to get the stadium ready.
"It would be impossible to do that as such short notice. The Premier League fixtures have been out for eleven weeks.
"It's always been clear that if Wigan [Warriors} were at home in the play-offs there would be a clash. Their success was unexpected. I don't think they expected to get a home match.
"I would move heaven and earth to let them play there if I could. I'm a Wigan rugby league fan."
Essentially, the ground is not owned by either Wigan Athletic or Wigan Warriors. The stadium itself is owned by a separate company, of which Mr Whelan is in control.
There are also the English Premier League rules which state that should ground-sharing be in place, the following two rules must follow:
1) A Premier League match shall always take presedence over the activities of the other party.
2) All reasonable steps are taken to maintain its pitch in good condition.
Clearly allowing the rugby to play in the stadium the evening before a Premier League fixture would not adhere to either of these rules, and so the Warriors are off to Widnes.
Meanwhile, a lonely looking gentleman was spotted in Widnes today, looking for the back yard of rugby league.
When questioned about his success, Mr Lindsay responded with a verbal volley of expletives that cannot be written for obvious reasons.
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