London, June 4 (IANS): English Championship side Wigan Athletic have been taken over by a partnership headed by Hong Kong businessman Au Yeung Wai Kay, the second-tier club said in a statement on Thursday.
"We can confirm that the sale of the majority shareholdings of the Wigan Athletic Group from International Entertainment Corporation (IEC) to Next Leader Fund L.P. has now been formally completed," a statement on the club's website said.
"The transaction has been formally ratified and approved by the shareholders of IEC, the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and the EFL.
"Next Leader Fund L.P. is a limited partnership and Au Yeung Wai Kay is the General Partner of the limited partnership. Au Yeung has many years of experience in business operations management and business leadership in Asia.
"Au Yeung, Man Chun Szeto and Chun Kit Chan will join existing executive directors Darren Royle, Joe Royle, Jonathan Jackson and Thomas Chan on the board of directors of Wigan Athletic Football Club.
"Directors Kevin Roberts, Michelle Chen, Chi Wai Lee, Wing Lam Leung, Cheung Tat Man have stepped down from the board of directors, following completion," the statement on wiganathletic.com added.
Wigan are 20th in EFL standings, two points above the relegation zone. The current season had to be suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The league is set to restart on June 20, subject to government guidelines being met.