Wigan Athletic chairman Dave Whelan has purchased a Chorley golf club with a view to possibly developing the site as the football club’s new first team and academy training ground.
Mr Whelan has purchased Charnock Richard Golf Club, an 89 site which lies a few miles north of Wigan on the outskirts of Chorley.
As well as the 18-hole golf course which was established in 1994, the site also has a club house made from an original farmhouse, changing facilities, bars, a restaurant and a function suite.
The club will now be working closely with the Local Authority to discuss the process of applying for necessary planning permissions.
However they were keen to stress that the golf club will continue to operate as normal for the remainder of the golf season – with all Charnock Richard golf clubs competitions and fixtures being honoured.
The development of this site will be a key part of the club’s attempts to secure youth development category 1 status – and it is hoped that work could begin at the site by the end of the year.
The club also confirmed in its statement that the previously outlined development near Wrightington Hotel and Country Club will no longer take place.
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