According to The Sun (02/08, p61), Preston North End owner Trevor Hemmings wants Wigan Athletic’s training ground.
The Sunday newspaper claim that Wigan could sell their training ground to raise funds, with the Latics in financial crisis.
Hemmings is believed to be keen on taking it off their hands, in a move that won’t surprise many North End fans.
Firstly, Wigan’s training ground is based in Euxton. That’s around 10 miles south of North End’s current training base, Springfields.
SAKA, ANTONY AND 10 PREMIER LEAGUE STARS HEADING TO THEIR FIRST WORLD CUP
Virtually equidistant between Preston and Wigan, taking the training ground would make sense geographically – and because of North End’s own training ground issues.
MORE PRESTON STORIES
The plans for a new state-of-the-art training ground have hit the buffers, with Preston confirming in February that the money simply isn’t there to carry out the plans.
Instead, North End submitted planning permission for improvements to Springfields, and there hasn’t been much update on that front since.
Purchasing Wigan’s training ground would give North End improved facilities that are already in place, whilst helping solve some financial issues for the Latics.
Wigan haven’t reached that stage yet, but Preston may now focus on trying to pinch their land instead of spending on Springfields.