Wigan Album

Whelan did not 'ruin' Orrell – I speak to the old senior members of the club on a regular basis and NOT one of them blames DW – what ruined Orrell was their unsustainable progression into the professional era – the money had ran out well before Whelan became involved!

Scholesmalc. thanks for your comment. Even though I left Wigan in 1970, I return frequently and have often heard the comments about Dave Whelan and Orrell. I am one of those who have never set foot in the DW stadium, leaving Central Park was just too painful especially as I am also from Scholes. However it is interesting to hear a different perspective for once. Can anyone else out there cast some light on the truth of the Orrell collapse.

Correct Scholes Malc, i have it on good authority from an ex Orrell international, that only for DW, Orrell RUFC would have been reduced to what they are today, much sooner.

Sorry, Roy, but I disagree with your comment. Orrell would have eventually survived the onset of professionalism albeit after a few rough years. They would still be playing at their rightful home today; and 2,000 plus crowds would have been their average. The club had the knack of a great fund raising team to fall back on. I for one would have supported their cause.

wikipedia.... 'The advent of the professional game hit the club hard. Poor financial management plunged the club into debt, and as figures began to spiral out of control, the club made the conscious decision at the beginning of the 1996–97 season to spend only what it could afford. By steadfastly refusing to chase the big-spending monied outfits, the club was faced with the mass exodus of sixteen of their first team squad. They were inevitably relegated'
over to Jarvopedia....

I think Scholes Malc is spot on - the choice was hard but realistic - other great sides had to make similar decisions such as Fylde RU, with similar results in terms of their standing in the game.

Like I said, Malc, a few rough years; but they WOULD have survived. The Clubhouse was an arson job: and that, my friend, was that...

The introduction of professional status hit the North Western clubs very hard. None of them could, or can, attract the level of support needed to finance the game at the top level. The NW premier club Sale lacks finance to compete at the top of the Premiership and is currently indebted to the owner to the tune of £9.5 million.
The successful clubs play in areas were there is no, or little, direct competition from alternative top flight sports.
If the former Orrell club officers are culpable for anything it must be the failure, during the good times, of not placing the clubhouse and grounds into the ownership of a trust that couldn't be bought or sold. This is what happened at Sale with the first team now playing at Salford and the junior teams still using the original Heywood Road ground.

unfortunately orrell let 2 men in from Wigan rlfc who promised to get them back in the premier league live on television when all they were interested in was selling the assets.