David Sharpe (football club chairman)

David Sharpe (born 11 May 1991)[1] has been the chief executive and director of football of English football club Mansfield Town since May 2020.

David Sharpe (Chairman) and Will Grigg (Wigan Athletic striker) with League One trophy after finishing in first place in the 2015/16 season

He was formerly chairman of Wigan Athletic (2015–2019).[2]

Sharpe was born in Wigan. He was educated at Shrewsbury School, and then studied business at Oxford Brookes University.[3]

Sharpe's grandfather Dave Whelan took control of Wigan Athletic in February 1995, when the club was in the Football League Third Division, then the fourth tier of English football. The club finished fourth from bottom in 1993–94, under threat of relegation to the non-league Football Conference. Under Whelan, the club was promoted several times, reaching the Premier League in 2005. Wigan won the FA Cup on 11 May 2013,[4] but was also relegated to the Championship at the end of the 2012–13 season.[5]

The Whelan family continues to own all of the shares in the company that controls Wigan Athletic. Whelan had always ear marked Sharpe to run the club and he became a director at Wigan Athletic in December 2014, while the club was in the Championship. Sharpe was appointed as chairman after his grandfather's resignation in March 2015. At the age of 23, he became one of the world's youngest football bosses.[6] Sharpe's appointment came with shock and scepticism from both fans and the media as the youngest chairman in English football.[7][8]

Sharpe’s first major decision was to sack Malky Mackay on Easter Monday after a 2–0 home defeat to Derby County.[9][10] With 5 games remaining till the end of the season Sharpe appointed former club captain Gary Caldwell,[11] however Wigan Athletic fell short and were relegated to League One.[12]

Current Wigan Athletic Chairman and his Grandfather David Whelan, previous Wigan Athletic chairman

The 2015–16 season, Sharpe and Caldwell’s first full season, saw the club winning League One and being promoted to the Championship.[13]

Ahead of the new championship season further recruitment was made for key players such as Jordi Gomez,[14] Nick Powell[15] and Dan Burn.[16]

In the championship season 2016–17 and after a run of 14 games with only two victories Sharpe made the decision to sack Gary Caldwell.[17] Sharpe appointed Warren Joyce[18] from Manchester United who came highly recommended from well-known names such as Sir Alex Ferguson,[19] Joyce had previously turned down manager roles at Burnley and Blackburn.[20] However, results didn't bring the change that the appointment of a new manager had expected. In March 2017, Joyce was sacked.[21] The club was now in a relegation battle and Graham Barrow took over as caretaker manager.[22]

After relegation was confirmed Sharpe made the decision to approach Portsmouth for their manager Paul Cook.[23] Cook was appointed in June 2017.[24] Wigan managed to keep star players and under Cook have dominated League One so far this season.[25][26][27][28]

David Sharpe, current Wigan Athletic Chairman, Paul Sharpe, David Whelan, previous Wigan Athletic Chairman.

References
  1. "MEET OUR NEW CHAIRMAN, DAVID SHARPE - News - Wigan Athletic". Retrieved 5 February 2018.
  2. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/46072140
  3. "MEET OUR NEW CHAIRMAN, DAVID SHARPE - News - Wigan Athletic". Retrieved 5 February 2018.
  4. "FA Cup final: Manchester City 0-1 Wigan Athletic". BBC Sport. 11 May 2013. Retrieved 5 February 2018.
  5. "Arsenal 4-1 Wigan: FA Cup winners are relegated". BBC Sport. 14 May 2013. Retrieved 5 February 2018.
  6. Williams, Mike (3 November 2016). "Meet football's youngest chairman, Wigan Athletic's David Sharpe - BBC Newsbeat". BBC Newsbeat. Retrieved 5 February 2018.
  7. "Ex-Shrewsbury School pupil becomes one of world's youngest football bosses". www.shropshirestar.com. Retrieved 5 February 2018.
  8. "Can a 23-year-old run a football club?". BBC News. Retrieved 5 February 2018.
  9. Jackson, Jamie (6 April 2015). "Wigan Athletic 0-2 Derby County | Championship match report". the Guardian. Retrieved 5 February 2018.
  10. "Wigan Athletic sack manager Malky Mackay after 2-0 home defeat". ITV News. Retrieved 5 February 2018.
  11. Prenderville, Liam (7 April 2015). "Wigan appoint captain Gary Caldwell as new manager following Malky Mackay sacking". mirror. Retrieved 5 February 2018.
  12. "Wigan Athletic relegated to League One". www.wigantoday.net. Retrieved 5 February 2018.
  13. "WIGAN ATHLETIC ARE SKY BET LEAGUE ONE CHAMPIONS". Retrieved 5 February 2018.
  14. "Wigan complete signing of Jordi Gomez from Sunderland". Sky Sports. Retrieved 5 February 2018.
  15. "Nick Powell: Wigan sign former Man Utd midfielder on three-year deal". BBC Sport. 12 July 2016. Retrieved 5 February 2018.
  16. "Dan Burn: Wigan Athletic to sign Fulham centre-back". BBC Sport. 23 June 2016. Retrieved 5 February 2018.
  17. "Gary Caldwell: Wigan Athletic manager sacked after 18 months in charge". BBC Sport. 25 October 2016. Retrieved 5 February 2018.
  18. "Warren Joyce: Wigan Athletic appoint Man Utd U21 boss as manager". BBC Sport. 2 November 2016. Retrieved 5 February 2018.
  19. Whittell, Ian (3 November 2016). "Wigan appoint Manchester United starmaker Warren Joyce on Sir Alex Ferguson's recommendation". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 5 February 2018.
  20. "Manchester United U21 boss Warren Joyce interviewed for Blackburn Rovers job". Lancashire Telegraph. Retrieved 5 February 2018.
  21. "Warren Joyce: Wigan Athletic part company after four months". BBC Sport. 13 March 2017. Retrieved 5 February 2018.
  22. Wheelock, Paul (13 March 2017). "Chester legend Graham Barrow named interim manager of Wigan Athletic". chesterchronicle. Retrieved 5 February 2018.
  23. "Paul Cook: Portsmouth manager interested in Wigan Athletic talks". BBC Sport. 13 May 2017. Retrieved 5 February 2018.
  24. "Paul Cook: Wigan Athletic appoint Portsmouth boss as new manager". BBC Sport. 31 May 2017. Retrieved 5 February 2018.
  25. "EFL Official Website Manager of the Month: Paul Cook - Wigan Athletic". Retrieved 5 February 2018.
  26. "'Why would anyone want to leave Wigan Athletic?' - Grigg". www.wigantoday.net. Retrieved 5 February 2018.
  27. Association, Press (17 January 2018). "Wigan sense repeat of history after crushing win over Bournemouth". the Guardian. Retrieved 5 February 2018.
  28. Wilson, Paul (27 January 2018). "Will Grigg hits double as Wigan cause FA Cup upset against 10-man West Ham". the Guardian. Retrieved 5 February 2018.
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