The 21-year-old entrepreneur was Sarbjot Johal, whom BBC Sport identified in June 2023 as the leading prospective buyer for Wigan Athletic. His proposed takeover did not go through: Mike Danson completed the purchase on 14 June 2023. Johal’s bid was a historical proposal, not a current purchase attempt.
Who was the prospective Wigan buyer?
BBC Sport reported on 6 June 2023 that Sarbjot Johal, then 21, was in talks to buy Wigan Athletic and was the leading candidate at that point. The club’s ownership group had said a sale was agreed in principle, subject to English Football League (EFL) approval. That announcement described a proposed transaction; it did not mean Johal had completed the purchase. BBC Sport’s report identified him as the prospective buyer.
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Johal was also pursuing a separate proposed purchase of Morecambe. BBC Sport reported that he had not provided the proof or sufficiency of funding needed for that proposal to be ratified. That was an issue in the Morecambe process; it does not establish Johal’s personal wealth or explain why the Wigan sale ultimately went to someone else.
Who actually bought Wigan Athletic?
Mike Danson completed the purchase of Wigan Athletic from Phoenix 2021 Limited on 14 June 2023, according to The Guardian. The key distinction is between Johal being reported as the leading prospective buyer and Danson completing the acquisition: Johal did not become Wigan’s owner through the 2023 process.
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Why was Wigan seeking a sale?
The proposed takeover unfolded amid severe financial pressure at the club. On 12 June 2023, BBC Sport reported an HMRC winding-up petition over unpaid tax bills, an EFL transfer embargo linked to tax commitments, concerns about wage payments, and an eight-point deduction due to begin the following season. These describe Wigan’s circumstances in June 2023, not its current financial or sporting position. BBC Sport’s account of the financial situation sets out those issues.
Who controls Wigan Athletic now?
The current Companies House record for Wigan Athletic A.F.C. Limited lists Community Holdco 2023 Limited as its active person with significant control, with ownership of 75% or more. This is the register’s current control entry, not a description of the terms of Johal’s 2023 proposal or a complete account of every beneficial or operational detail of the club’s ownership. The company record is available through Companies House.
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How do football takeover approvals work now?
The EFL’s current guidance says a prospective acquisition of control is subject to EFL and Independent Football Regulator (IFR) requirements. It describes the Owners’ and Directors’ Source of Wealth and Expenditure (ODSE) regime, introduced from 5 May 2026, and IFR assessments covering honesty and integrity, financial soundness, financial resources, and competence. See the EFL’s current owners and directors guidance.
This 2026 framework is current regulatory context; it should not be applied retroactively to Johal’s proposed 2023 bid. The approval requirements and process described by the EFL today are not evidence about the specific checks or outcome of his negotiations.
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