Latics to get club shop and decent merchandise?

By Oscar Wilde
August 22 2006

Wigan Athletic have appointed a new Sales Director, 29 year-old Anthony Clark, who has previously worked for Nottingham Forest. They are also hoping to appoint a Commercial Director in the near future, with club bosses promising the new person will be "Premiership quality and vastly experienced".

As the only team in the world (probably) without a club shop and a distressing lack of even the most basic merchandise (aside from mugs, keyrings and those daft rugby league car flags), it remains to be seen if these positions will make a difference to the club or if they will merely be empty positions so the powers that be can delude themselves that the club is run with true premier league efficiency.

 

Speaking about his appointment Clark said: "This is a really exciting project for me and I can't wait to get stuck in.

 

"Wigan Athletic is without doubt the most up and coming football club in the country, if not the whole of Europe. The profile we've gained through the success on the pitch has made us recognisable not just nationally but internationally as well.

 

"It's vital that the club capitalise on this opportunity and make sure we get into the local community and wider to ensure no avenue is left unexplored. Wigan Athletic has come a long way in a short space of time.

 

"For a club who were playing Division Two just four seasons ago, the infrastructure at Wigan is very professional already. But when you consider that the club is now rubbing shoulders and having to compete on and off the field with the biggest and most established clubs in the Premiership, it is important that we are able to measure up to any other club in the division.

 

"Hopefully, I will be able to help in allowing the club to capitalise on its Premiership status, and to realise the immense potential that exists here. We are Premier League on the field, but we are also Premier League off the field now as well."

 

After spouting all this guff, it remains to be seen if the club can find the motivation to open a decent club shop and have some decent merchandise