Dave Whelan in threat to quit Wigan Athletic

Dave Whelan in threat to quit Wigan if FA accuses him over alleged racism
• Chairman pledges to resign if FA ‘even suggest I’m guilty’


Wigan Athletic's owner Dave Whelan near the entrance to the players' tunnel

The Wigan chairman, Dave Whelan, has pledged to resign from his position with the Championship club if the Football Association finds him guilty of making discriminatory remarks during an attempted defence of his appointment of Malky Mackay as manager.

The FA is looking into remarks by Whelan about Jewish and Chinese people in a Guardian interview last week. He has since apologised and denies being racist.

The FA has written to Whelan to ask for his version of events and says its investigation is a priority. But Whelan, 77, has made it clear that any verdict that goes against him would mean the end of his near-20 years in charge at Wigan, during which time he has overseen the club’s rise from the bottom division to the Premier League. Wigan, who were relegated to the Championship two seasons ago, also won the FA Cup in 2013.

Whelan told ITV: “Should they even suggest I’m guilty I would immediately resign from my position as chairman of Wigan Athletic. I hope they don’t and I don’t see anything like that happening because I’m absolutely anti-racist, always have been, always will be.”

Whelan was given a standing ovation from the home fans when stepping into the directors’ box at the DW Stadium before Wigan’s 1-1 draw with Middlesbrough in Mackay’s first game in charge.

Mackay’s appointment caused widespread criticism; the Scot is under investigation from the FA over allegedly racist, sexist and homophobic texts he sent when he was manager of Cardiff City. Mackay denies being a racist and restricted his post-match comments to football matters, saying reporters had had their “pound of flesh” since his appointment on Wednesday.

He did say, though, that he was grateful for the warm reception he received. “Everyone was focused. Mr Whelan came into the dressing room before the game to say good luck to the guys and to see me and then after the game came in to tell them he was very proud of them.

“I didn’t know what the crowd was going to be like but everyone was so welcoming. I am very proud that on the day my father and my son were here to watch – and no matter what happens going forward – on my first day as a manager of Wigan Athletic there were hairs standing up on the back of my neck with the reception I got from our support.”