: Tue Jan 20, 2009 12:32 pm  

The main trouble was when whealan was in charge he had the market for sports shops, so expanded to the soccer dome and health clubs, these two areas made the most revenue (£35 a month for the gym, without doing much) and he subsequently took his eye off the thing that got him there ie the shops,

Then along came his old mate Mike Ashley , who took over the kit yourself out for a tenner market and JD Sports who took over the "Sports Fashion" side of the market, leaving JJB's core market reduced as they sold neither of these things as well as the other 2.

Whealan then sold up for high, and now plans to buy the health clubs back (which is the only area of the business that makes money) for a relative pittance.

People call him, but you got to respect his business ability, he done well for himself, but then again so did Fagan!

Still its tragic for the lads and lasses who work for JJB.

: Tue Jan 20, 2009 12:44 pm  

Could have a collection and put a bid in to sponsor the stadium,

call it the - dave whelan is a cock stadium

: Tue Jan 20, 2009 1:09 pm  

Sharpy_4a wrote:

The main trouble was when whealan was in charge he had the market for sports shops, so expanded to the soccer dome and health clubs, these two areas made the most revenue (£35 a month for the gym, without doing much) and he subsequently took his eye off the thing that got him there ie the shops,

Then along came his old mate Mike Ashley , who took over the kit yourself out for a tenner market and JD Sports who took over the "Sports Fashion" side of the market, leaving JJB's core market reduced as they sold neither of these things as well as the other 2.

Whealan then sold up for high, and now plans to buy the health clubs back (which is the only area of the business that makes money) for a relative pittance.

People call him, but you got to respect his business ability, he done well for himself, but then again so did Fagan!

Still its tragic for the lads and lasses who work for JJB.

his problem was that he was expanding quicker than he could keep up running the businesses he was taking over.
didnt he sell pooles pies shortly after buying?
and that TJ Hughes venture was a disaster.....a shop nobody even went into
as you say, others came along and undercut him and he didnt notice.
he had too many outlets in the same towns.
now hes got out and hoarded his millions, while his poorly paid workers are now facing the dole.
jjb in liverpool is right next to the liverpool superstore.......guess where liverpool fans but their stuff?
would be same here if we had a superstore, but at least we have warriors world for now.

this mike ashley you mention??? if hes who i think he is im betting hes laughing all the way to the bank shortly.

: Tue Jan 20, 2009 1:55 pm  

those were the days wrote:

i heard a rumour that the sponser of the stadium would be a well known japanese car company.

I heard a Japanese manufacturing company specialising in 'Big Wheels' like the London Eye.

: Tue Jan 20, 2009 2:02 pm  

Charlie Seeling wrote:

I think of more concern is the poor blighters employed there

I'm sure that those with a brian or tried hard enough at school will be okay.

As for the rest, well, the world hates ditch-diggers too.

: Tue Jan 20, 2009 3:30 pm  

Abe Frohman wrote:

I'm sure that those with a brian or tried hard enough at school will be okay.

As for the rest, well, the world hates ditch-diggers too.

It has no impact upon me personally.

However, many of those employed are decent people. They often worked elsewhere and as large scale companies closed in the Borough, JJB offered at least employment. In the current economic downturn I would imagine finding employment is not as easy as you suggest.

The bottom line is that Dave Whelan is sitting pretty. He cashed in. It is the poor blighters who need their jobs who are the ones that suffer.

: Tue Jan 20, 2009 3:32 pm  

Re; JJB I believe their growth as a company was more luck than design. They had always stocked football shirts and in the late 80's/early 90's IIRC, wearing football shirts became fashionable. Fashion change benefitted JJB. Unfortunately, they failed to plan / adapt for when that fashion trend ended.

: Tue Jan 20, 2009 3:42 pm  

on a positive note for JJB employees worried about their jobs......tesco are creating 500 jobs in wigan and leigh http://www.wigantoday.net/wigannews/Tes ... 4889211.jp

on a positive note for JJB employees worried about their jobs......tesco are creating 500 jobs in wigan and leigh http://www.wigantoday.net/wigannews/Tes ... 4889211.jp

[DaveO]

: Wed Jan 21, 2009 11:07 am  

Ancient & Loyal wrote:

I'm glad our contract with JJB Sports has come to an end before this has come to light.

We never had a contract with them if you are referring to shirt sponsorship. DW just stuck the name on the shirt because he owned both Wigan RL and JJB.

At the same time, it's not nice for those people who are employed by the company and the fact that it is a Wigan based business which is in the news for struggling. I certainly hope it doesn't crumble to its foundations.

Exactly. Whatever we may think of DW and the way he used to run the company it employs a lot of local people.

Dave

: Wed Jan 21, 2009 2:03 pm  

DaveO wrote: ....... it employs a lot of local people. Like, a local shop for local people, you mean?

DaveO wrote: ....... it employs a lot of local people. Like, a local shop for local people, you mean?