Wigan have announced that Dave Whelan has resigned as the club's chairman, with his 23-year-old grandson David Sharpe replacing him in the role.
The 78-year-old, who bought the club 20 years ago, will continue to own the club but will no longer have a hands-on role.
Under his stewardship Wigan rose from the fourth tier to the Premier League and won the FA Cup in their first ever final in 2013, days before being relegated back to the Championship.
In a statement on the club's official website, Whelan said: "The time has now come to hand over the reins. 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."
"Contrary to some suggestions, there are no plans to sell the club, which will remain in family hands and I have every confidence that David, along with chief executive Jonathan Jackson, will lead us forwards with wisdom."
Whelan added: "I would like to say huge thank you to the board of directors, all the staff at the club, and of course the wonderful supporters of Wigan Athletic, who have helped make the journey over the past 20 years such an exciting and memorable one."
Whelan was fined £50,000 by the English FA last December for "aggravated misconduct" after using offensive language about Chinese and Jewish people in the wake of the Malky Mackay texts scandal.
However, the FA decided that Whelan "is not a racist".
Everton manager Roberto Martinez, who was signed in 1995 as one of Wigan's 'Three Amigos' and later became the club's manager, has paid tribute to Whelan.
He said: "I was privileged to witness first hand what a proud football man can do for a club. It is a shock to hear that."
