Dave Whelan has stepped down as chairman of English second-tier club Wigan Athletic and will be succeeded by his 23-year-old grandson David Sharpe, he announced on Tuesday. "The time has now come to hand over the reins," Whelan said in a statement on the club website. "I am approaching 80 years old and spend an increasingly long time abroad, and cannot make it to games. It is a decision I have been mulling over for some years and I believe David is now ready."
Whelan, 78, bought the club 20 years ago and will continue in his role as owner. A former player with Blackburn Rovers and Crewe Alexandra, Whelan made his fortune in sports retail as owner of the JJB Sports chain of shops. His finest achievement as Wigan chairman was the club's shock win over Manchester City in the 2013 FA Cup final, although the club were relegated from the Premier League later that season.