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Roberto Martinez in frame for Aston Villa job

09th June 2011

 

Wigan have given permission to Aston Villa to speak to Roberto Martinez about the vacant managerial position at the Midlands club.

The former Swansea manager is favourite to succeed Gerard Houllier, who left this month following heart problems.

Wigan chairman Dave Whelan told the Daily Telegraph he had granted permission but added he would be "very surprised" if Martinez left for Villa.

Steve McClaren, Rafael Benitez and Mark Hughes have all been ruled out.

Villa chief executive Paul Faulkner released a statement on the club's website on Thursday in which he said the selection process was still ongoing.

It read: "The club is conscious of the keen interest in developments over the appointment of our new manager.
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* As a player, Martinez made 150 league appearances for Wigan between 1995 and 2001

"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. We will update fans again when the process is more advanced."

With former England boss McClaren, ex-Liverpool manager Benitez and Hughes, who resigned as Fulham manager last week, all out of the running, Martinez now seems to be Villa's preferred choice.

Martinez has been targeted by Villa after Houllier left in early June. The 63-year-old Frenchman, who was in charge for only nine months, had missed the final month of the season because of heart problems.

Martinez, 37, joined Wigan from Swansea in 2009 - his first competitive game in charge ironically being a 2-0 away victory over Aston Villa.

He has managed to keep Wigan in the Premier League in his two seasons in charge, with the club surviving in 2010/11 thanks to a four-game unbeaten run at the end of the campaign.

Losing Martinez would be a big disappointment for Wigan but Whelan expects his manager to stay.

"Aston Villa have acted above board and in a totally professional manner," he said.

"They wrote to me asking for permission to speak to Roberto. He was on holiday at the time and I granted Villa permission.

"He arrived back yesterday [Tuesday] and I presume he has spoken to Villa. I have made it clear to him I will be extending his contract.

"I have never let him down on anything and he has never let me down. I know I can never say never in football, but I would be very surprised if he is Aston Villa's new manager."

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Wigan and Wolves celebrate avoiding relegation on the last day of the season

Swansea chairman Huw Jenkins, who brought Martinez to the Welsh club in 2007, believes the Spaniard would be a good appointment for Villa.

"Roberto was a fantastic player and manager for our club and I have got no doubts that whatever club he may move to, he is a great manager and a great choice for anybody," Jenkins told BBC Radio 5 live.

Welshman Hughes resigned after less than a year at Craven Cottage and has subsequently been linked with the vacant positions at Villa and Chelsea.

Benitez has been out of work since he was dismissed by Italian side Inter Milan in December after six months in charge.

McClaren, 50, was sacked by German side Wolfsburg in February and is thought to be keen on a return to managing in England.

He was in charge of Middlesbrough for five years before he was given the task of helping England to qualify for Euro 2008.

However, after stepping up from his role of assistant boss following the departure of Sven-Goran Eriksson, he failed to guide England to the tournament in Switzerland and Austria and was consequently sacked.

McClaren's next full-time role was at FC Twente, where he guided the club to the Dutch title for the first time in their history, before leaving for Wolfsburg in May 2010.

BBC Radio 5 live's Pat Murphy added: "I understand that it was the hostility of some Villa supporters against Steve McClaren that turned [Villa owner] Randy Lerner off the prospect of even giving an interview to an experienced manager with a fine club track record, excellent contacts and a commitment to bringing on young players.

"So McClaren's failings with England four years ago are deemed decisive when assessing his pedigree at club level.

"I understand Rafa Benitez wanted £30m minimum to spend on new players, Lerner knocked that one back."

 

source: http://www.bbc.co.uk

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