Wigan discussed with local residents plans to redevelop their Christopher Park training ground into a leading academy. The Latics first team currently train at Christopher Park but will move to a purpose-built site out of town with the existing facilities redeveloped to focus solely on the club's young players.
"Our continuing development both at first-team level and as a community club relies on our ability to attract and retain good quality professional players, develop young talent through our academy and the football club being a focal point of the community," chief executive Jonathan Jackson has said.
"These exciting new plans are the first part of a major new development aimed at creating a Category 1 Football Academy at Wigan Athletic.
"With this facility we intend to attract and develop young players into the next Leighton Baines, someone who came through the ranks at Wigan and now regularly represents England at full international level.
"Our dream is for the club to become synonymous with excellence on and off the pitch and this first stage of our development is a huge step in the right direction to make that dream come true."
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