Premier League - Wigan close in on Martinez

Eurosport - Thu, 04 Jun 17:22:00 2009

Wigan owner Dave Whelan is confident a deal to bring Roberto Martinez in as manager will be concluded by Friday morning.

FOOTBALL Swansea Roberto Martinez - 0

The Barclays Premier League club were given permission to speak to the former Latics midfielder on Thursday after agreeing a compensation package with Championship outfit Swansea.

Martinez, 35, was hugely popular in his six years as a player with the club from 1995-2001 and Wigan have moved quickly to secure his services after losing Steve Bruce to Sunderland earlier this week.

"I am delighted and I know the whole of Wigan will be excited we are getting one of the Three Amigos back," said Whelan.

"Roberto played good football and I've followed his career go on and on. His players play football from back to front, I like what I see and I am really excited Roberto is coming back to Wigan."

"Compensation was something we had to agree, that is only fair and right. We did that with Birmingham and we have now agreed with the chairman of Swansea. Hopefully things will be sorted out and contracts signed by tomorrow morning."

PA Sport

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  1. i thought he seemed like a man that would stick to his­ word!!it will be a real loss to the swans...if he does­ go watch out wigan you best hope that sir alex doesnt­ hang up his boots or you shall feel like all swans fans­ do this morning!!!

    From Jason L, on Fri 5 Jun 7:12AM
  2. (13) I'll give three good reasons for him to come­ to Wigan
    1, He will be paid alot more money for­ start.
    2, He will not have your players playing on our­ pitch we have our own. So pitch condition does not come­ into it.
    3, With the Wigan he has more chances of­ better things so he can progress.
    I know it would be a­ sad day for you guys but why should your manager give­ up a chance to be in the premiership just to be­ loyal.
    Wigan has had to face these challenges every­ season, players going when they are scouted.
    Maybe if­ you find yourselves in the premiership you might be­ having the same conversation.
    You never know he might­ get the same treatment that Hutchins got 12 weeks and­ out.
    We might be doing you a favor because if he is not­ good enough for the premiership then he is not good­ enough to get you up there and keep you­ there.
    Wigan's problem is when we just get a good­ team our chairman sells our best assetts.

    From anthony m, on Fri 5 Jun 6:42AM
  3. YES OF COURSE HE WILL FOR MAYEE ONE SECOND . MATE­ THERES NO SENTIMENTS IN FOOTBALL REMEMBER THAT. STEVE­ BRUCE WAS OUR HERO TO.

    LATICS FAN 40 YEARS

    From joseph g, on Thu 4 Jun 11:32PM
  4. MR MARTINEZ WAS A FINE PLAYER . I HAVE ALSO SEEN­ SWANSEA CITY ON TV AND THE FOOTBALL YOU PLAYED THERE­ WAS THE PURE SLICK PASSING GAME. THIS IS FINE AND GOOD­ IN DIV 2 CCC . MY WORRY IS MARTINEZ WILL HAVE TO CHANGE­ HIS STYLE FOR MOST GAMES. WEST BROM WERE MAYBE ONE OF­ THE BETTER PURE FOOTBALL TEAMS LAST SEASON AND THEY GOT­ RELEGATED. HAVING SAID THAT THE PLAYERS AT WIGAN ARE­ PREM CLASS AND THEY HAVE BEEN THERE AND GOT THE T­ SHIRT. WITH HUGO RODALAGA THE ONLY STRIKER AT THE CLUB­ WE NEED TO FIND TWO OUR THREE MORE. I ONLY HOPE HE­ DOESNT GO LOOKING TO SIGN DIV 2 CCC PLAYERS BECAUSE ON­ THE WHOLE THEY ARE NOT GOOD ENOUGH. WIGAN TRIED THAT­ WITH M. KING WHO WAS THE DIV 2CCC TOP SCORER AT THE­ TIME AND HE WASNT GOOD ENOUGH.
    HAVING SAID ALL THAT,­ BOB MARTINEZ WELCOME BACK TO WIGAN AND GOOD LUCK YOU­ ARE NOW A F A PREMIER MANAGER PLAYING IN THE BEST­ LEAGUE IN THE WORLD CONGRATULATIONS SIR.

    J GREEN­ LATICS FAN 40 YEARS

    From joseph g, on Thu 4 Jun 10:51PM
  5. Unfortunately only one thing talks these days-MONEY. If­ Martinez can do well with Wigan, a big IF mind, it is a­ ticket to much greater things. He might however have­ the same thing happen to him as Roy Keane. Things not­ going well, out on his arse and then back down to start­ again. It's a gamble but he will go. This means­ upheaval for swansea next year so it will be tough. No­ fan base to sustain time in the PL sorry, not like the­ Tosh days. Never go there now, did then, but it was­ mainly yobless.

    From taff, on Thu 4 Jun 8:57PM
  6. Having persuaded players to stay at Swansea,would be a­ bit disloyal for him to leave,could only be for­ money,why on earth would anyone want to go to­ Wigan.Wouldn't be ambition,not enough money there­ and the players he's found for Swansea have­ performed at Championship level, Premiership massive­ leap again.As for The Northener questioning why­ he's a Judas,most Swans fans would wish him well,be­ interesting to see what the rugby league town's­ supporters have to say next time Robert's head is­ turned,having already heard him talk of loyalty.Final­ say is with Martinez.As for Whelan saying he's­ delighted to welcome back one of his three amigos,why­ wait for Steve Bruce to go before poaching,something to­ do with Sunderlands money perhaps?

    From SUE, on Thu 4 Jun 8:38PM
  7. What's his coaching badge?

    From Erskine Sam, on Thu 4 Jun 7:55PM
  8. If roberto goes to the pie eaters we'll be passing­ them on the up as they come down

    From watkins1975, on Thu 4 Jun 7:44PM
  9. How is Martinez a Judas if he goes to manage a club­ where he spent six years at?

    From The Northerner, on Thu 4 Jun 6:39PM
  10. Lawrence Smith 51 (is that your age?): Send me a photo.­ I'll bet with those long legs, blond hairs (even­ the pubes?) and blue eyes, you're a little cracker.

    From KEVIN P, on Thu 4 Jun 6:07PM
  11. Judas Martinez talk about us cheering for trundle and­ slagging off andy robinson for going to leeds and hes­ doing the same first chance he gets.

    From watkins1975, on Thu 4 Jun 6:03PM
  12. It will be really sad if he goes however if Huw Jenkins­ reads this, get on the phone to Espanyol tonight and­ use the money to get Jordi Gomez back as a Swansea­ player next season, every time he hits the back of the­ net next year we can thank Roberto and Wigan for their­ generosity in buying him for us.

    From Paul & Etania, on Thu 4 Jun 5:52PM
  13. U ave 2 remember no 1 man is bigger than the club but­ as a jack I don't want him to leave. he is a of a­ big part of the club. whatever happens always be proud­ to be a jack and support the lads playing always

    From mark.nrboi, on Thu 4 Jun 5:33PM
  14. Presuming darrendimond a scummer,yes mate Swansea Bay­ still as filthy as when you had your paddle in it.­ Wigan welcome to Scotland,think Espanyol might have­ something to say about Gomez unless a loan­ deal,they've watched him progress in­ Championship,and his values on the rise.If Rangell­ wants away let him go,we're not in debt but­ don't want anyone who doesn't want to play for­ us.Look forward to outplaying you again this season.Be­ quite a novelty,first football ground constructed out­ of Lego.Still keeping an eye on e-Bay for your sc­ called superstar players to hit reserve price,how you­ going to service that debt,or do you still believe­ Ridsdale going to pull a rabbit out of the hat.Ask­ Leeds and Barnsley fans where he put them.Done up like­ kippers by a camel mercant named Sam,biggest club in­ Wales,my a**e,Barry Town's feeder club before­ long.
    IMT

    From SUE, on Thu 4 Jun 5:11PM
  15. I hope I can be a well-educated man's someone­ special. I have long legs, blond hairs and blue eyes.­ Im kind, well-educated, humurous and cute. Reach me at­ _________________ R i ch B eau ty Me et C o m­ ______________

    From lawrencesmith51, on Thu 4 Jun 4:57PM
  16. he knows it's his only chance to manage in the­ prem, as the jacks will never get there...lol..and­ he'll take scotland, angel and gomez with him

    From darrendimond, on Thu 4 Jun 4:45PM
  17. Judging by what premier league teams are paying for­ players £2m is an absolute snip for a good manager who­ is arguably the most important member of the staff at­ any club. I'm a Fulham fan who watched us survive­ by the skin of our teeth at Swansea before sneaking­ past them in the replay at Craven Cottage. Swansea were­ quite frankly excellent in both ties and certainly­ deserved to go through at the first time of asking. A­ great coup for any club that gets hold of Martinez

    From pfy1101, on Thu 4 Jun 3:53PM
  18. 3 reasons why Martinez should stay at swansea.

    1. the­ state of Wigan's pitch to play his type of­ football

    2. attractive football with average players =­ relegation (e.g. West Brom)

    3. (agreed with below)­ Swansea are potentially a bigger club than Wigan will­ ever be - one club city, growing fan base etc.

    From deano.baggio, on Thu 4 Jun 3:52PM
  19. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Only two constants in football-the club and it's­ fans. If he wants to go,we'll still follow the­ Swans,probably even welcome him back if it goes pear­ shaped at Wigan. He's got a team of his own making­ here and everybodys backing,what happens if he gets a­ bad start at Wigan or wherever,chairman hits panic­ button and he'll be back on Sky Sports covering La­ Liga.Show some loyalty to the team who gave you a break­ Roberto,we might be in the Championship but are/always­ will be a bigger club than Wigan.Know sounds daft­ coming from a Jack but aren't they all egg chasers­ up there.
    IMT

    From SUE, on Thu 4 Jun 3:32PM
  20. I think he is staying with swans he is just talking­ with wigan then he will remember his words of loyalty

    From p.williams202, on Thu 4 Jun 3:24PM
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