Wigan chairman steps down

London - 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."