Whelan won´t stand in Martinez´s way

Wigan Athletic chairman Dave Whelan has revealed Aston Villa have not yet made an approach for manager Roberto Martinez.

Villa sacked Alex McLeish on Monday after a disappointing season which saw the club finish 16th in the Premier League, just two points above the relegation places.

Martinez was contacted by Villa last season before the appointment of McLeish as manager, and the Wigan boss has again been strongly linked with the post following the Scot’s dismissal.

“We haven’t received any notification at all that Aston Villa want to talk to him about this job,” Whelan told Sky Sports News.

“I am not aware of any approach coming from Aston Villa or any other club.

“If anybody approaches him, he will tell me because he knows that if I feel the club is right, and he feels the club is right for him, I will let him go and will back him to the hilt.

“Roberto and I have a complete understanding where we trust each other implicitly. We have a working relationship that is very upfront, open and honest.

“If anything comes up Roberto will see me and I will be the first to know.”

Whelan insists he is aiming to keep Martinez at Wigan and has hailed the 38-year-old for his development during his three-year stint at the DW Stadium.

“Last year I personally did not think that Roberto was ready to step up to the challenge,” Whelan said.

“I believe he is still on the learning curve, but he is a very quick learner, and he is going to go to a top club. That is for sure and I will back him when the time comes.

“I would like to keep Roberto, full stop, at Wigan, but that will be impossible because of how he has revolutionised Wigan again this year.

“We have great plans going forward at Wigan, and he is still very much a part of that.”