DW Sports owner Dave Whelan expects to take over 63 Fitness First gyms within the next two weeks.

In an interview with the Wigan Evening Post, the former Wigan Athletic chairman confirmed that DW Sports would be “getting 63 health clubs which are mainly in the south of England where DW does not have so much of a presence.”

Some sites will be in the London area.

Health Club Management reported in June that DW Sports was in talks to take over the Fitness First portfolio. There are 65 Fitness First clubs in the UK. Whelan told the Wigan newspaper he was not interested in any of the overseas sites.

Whelan also told the publication that he was “not expecting any trouble from the competition people” and that once the deal is secured the company will have around 130 outlets in England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales.

If the deal goes through it will rival Pure Gym, which has become the UK’s largest private operator, with more than 160 clubs.