It will mean Latics having to play a couple more home games on mud and slime before the green shoots of recovery hopefully start to appear.
Whelan explained that the problems with the pitch date back to when the stadium first opened.
But turf experts called in by him to carry out repairs believe they can be solved.
He told the Evening Post: "We've had problems since we came here, and when the turf was put down, fungus got into it.
"Also the roots have never grown deep enough and we played on it too soon because a pitch needs 18 months to get roots fully down.
"I was prepared to relay it which would have cost £120,000 but the pitch analyst we are using told me not to waste the money.
"If we did relay it, we would have to do it again in six months time and we'd be back to square one.
"That is because the grass wouldn't be able to knit with the ground underneath.
"We want the pitch bob on, and the analyst has been taking soil samples to determine exactly what is wrong.
"You can't just throw grass seed on because grass is dormant until the weather gets warmer and won't grow.
"If we were to do that, it would be like putting a plaster over a boil and we'd never get it right.
"In March we can start some treatment and the pitch should grow again.
"Until then, its a case of being patient and grinning and bearing the situation.
"Our next home game isn't until a week on Saturday against Derby, and then we don't play again until the end of the month. The weather at the moment isn't helping, and it's not just the JJB which is suffering – other grounds are having their problems
"We've had to move Terry O'Connor's testimonial to Orrell, but that is more to do with the rain we're having.
"The forecast isn't good and there was no way we'd have been able to play a league game at the JJB let alone a friendly.
"I would think that if it continues raining, most grounds in Lancashire, Yorkshire and Wales will have a problem this weekend."
Fortunately for Latics, the fixture list sends them to Ipswich on Saturday. Whelan said: "I've played at Portman Road and normally the pitch is very good there. It's in a part of the country where the soil is sandy and drains easily, so it should be fine."
* Latics' reserve game with Oldham was postponed yesterday because of a waterlogged pitch at the Robin Park Arena.
Article from the Wigan Evening Post.