David Whelan is an English former footballer. During his football career, he played for Blackburn Rovers and Crewe Alexandra. Whelan is the former owner of Football League Championship club Wigan Athletic, having also been the chairman of the club for twenty years, before passing the position over to his grandson, David Sharpe, who eventually passed the ownership over to International Entertainment Corporation. He is also owner of the DW Stadium, home to Football League Championship Football club Wigan Athletic and Rugby League club Wigan Warriors. In July 2015, Whelan received an honorary degree from the University of Bolton, making him a Doctor of Business Administration.
