Former Port Vale owner says he won’t be buying Wigan Athetic
Former Port Vale owner Norman Smurthwaite says he has no interest in buying crisis club Wigan Athletic.
The former Port Vale owner had reportedly been one of the frontrunners to buy the stricken club, which has been in administration since July 1. He had met with administrator Gerald Krasner to look around the club.
“I am not buying Wigan Athletic,” Smurthwaite told the Wigan Today newspaper. “All parties know that.
“I do want to get back into football, but I don’t want to be swimming uphill like a salmon.
“I understand I’m one of the only four who has passed the fit and proper test, and the only one who has had dialogue with the EFL – which is concerning. Once I had an understanding of what Gerald Krasner wanted and the financial requirement to buy and fund the club, to between £7.5m and £10m in 18 months, I was concerned that was a big risk.”
Smurthwaite’s spell in charge at Vale Park came to an end last year when he decided to sell the club to Kevin and Carol Shanahan. After joining the club in 2012 alongside Paul Wildes and enjoying promotion in 2013, his spell had turned sour in the final years with supporters protesting against his ownership.