引用第420樓benkwan38h於2011-06-09 19:47發表的“”:
Villa make Martinez move
Wigan give Villains permission to speak to manager
Wigan have given Aston Villa permission to speak to Roberto Martinez about the vacant managerial job at Villa Park.
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I expect Martinez to snub Villa and stay with Wigan, reveals Whelan
By Sportsmail Reporter
Last updated at 1:59 PM on 9th June 2011
Wigan chairman Dave Whelan reckons Roberto Martinez will reject Aston Villa.
Martinez is wanted to replace Gerard Houllier at Villa Park but Whelan believes he will snub their overtures and stay with the Latics for at least another season.
Wigan have granted Villa permission to talk to their manager about the possibility of taking the helm at Villa.
Martinez is thought to be Villa owner Randy Lerner's first choice for the position, which was vacated by Houllier last week.
Whelan has shown complete faith in Martinez since he appointed the former Wigan player as boss in 2009, standing by the Spaniard despite the club's flirtation with relegation.
The Latics chairman says the 37-year-old is free to join the midlands club if he likes, but is confident of hanging on to his man.
'My gut feeling is that he will stay with Wigan Athletic for another year or two,' Whelan told Sky Sports News.
'I have had meetings with him. We get on superbly well. His decision is final. I can't make that decision for him. It's entirely in Roberto's hands. If he decides to go then it will be his decision.'
Martinez ticks all the boxes as far as owner Randy Lerner is concerned — especially when it comes to working on a tight budget and is set to hold discussions about the vacancy over the next 48 hours.
Whelan signed Martinez as one of the 'three amigos' alongside compatriots Isidro Diaz and Jesus Seba to play for Wigan in 1995.
He spent six years with the Lancashire club before eventually trying his hand at management in his native Spain, and then with Swansea, before being appointed Latics boss two summers ago.
He led Wigan to 16th place in the Barclays Premier League in his first term in charge and finished in the same position last year, just three points outside of the relegation zone after a nail-biting end to the season.
The attractive style of play he employs has led him to become well-respected within the game and Whelan maintains that the Balaguer-born man will go on to become one of the best managers in the world.
'I honestly believe he will be one of the top managers in Europe in the next two or three years. One of the top six clubs will come in for him,' Whelan added.
'He is a brilliant manager and an honest gentleman. I would be upset if we lost him. I rate him so highly. He has settled in so well. He has built a very young squad and I would be really upset if we lost him.'
Villa chief Lerner, looking for his third manager in nine months, also had a conversation with former Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez, but was not convinced, especially given Benitez’s spending demands.
Villa chief executive Paul Faulkner said: 'The club is conscious of the keen interest in developments over the appointment of our new manager.
'When the process has reached an appropriate point we can assure our fans that we will be clear and forthright.
'We are focused right now on trying to secure the best candidate who will complement the club's commitment to being true to our heritage, competitiveness and passionate fan base.'
Significantly, Lerner cancelled a meeting with former England coach Steve McClaren because of fans’ reaction to his possible availability.
Now it remains to be seen whether Martinez is able to tear himself away from a club dear to his heart after an association that goes back 16 years, to when he was a player.
At 37, Martinez is the Barclays Premier League’s youngest manager. His dream move to the top flight came after he led Swansea to the League One title in 2008.
Whelan invited him to take over at the DW Stadium in 2009 and since then he has maintained Wigan’s status and increased his reputation as a coach. More importantly, he has helped Wigan become Villa’s bogey team, which captured the attention of Lerner.
McClaren had started the day as favourite to succeed Houllier, only to find he was no longer required for an interview. It appears the avalanche of negative reaction stunned Villa into a rethink.
Redemption for the man dubbed the Wally with the Brolly after failing to take England to the 2008 European Championship finals must wait a little longer.
That left the two Spaniards, Benitez and Martinez, as the only matadors in the Bull Ring.
Benitez, 51, has been touting for a job back in the Premier League since his six-month tenure at Inter Milan ended disastrously in December.
Martinez is fresh, young, and knows about modest budgets after Swansea and Wigan. He and Villa could be a marriage made in heaven.
Read more:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2001478/Roberto-Martinez-reject-Aston-Villa-says-Dave-Whelan.html#ixzz1On2dKYNK
