• Martínez installed as favourite for vacant Aston Villa job
• 'I am not aware of any approach,' Whelan says
The Wigan Athletic chairman, Dave Whelan, would like Roberto Martínez to remain at the club but he is prepared to allow the manager to leave should Aston Villa – or another club – make an offer this summer.
Martínez's reputation has been enhanced over recent weeks after Wigan's stunning end to the season, when seven victories from their last nine games enabled them to escape relegation.
As a result, the 38-year-old Spaniard has been installed as the favourite for the vacant Villa job – a role he turned down last summer – while he has also been linked with a summer move to Liverpool.
Although Whelan believes that Martínez – with whom he has a 20-year association – will eventually leave the DW Stadium, he has not heard anything to suggest that will be happening any time soon.
"Roberto and I have a complete understanding where we trust each other implicitly," he told Sky Sports News. "If anything comes up, Roberto will see me and I will be the first to know. We haven't received any notification at all that Aston Villa want to talk to him for this particular job, so there's nothing we can add on that."
Whelan has long predicted that Martínez will end up managing one of the game's top sides, but he is not worried about being caught off guard should the former Wigan captain decide to move on.
"It makes me feel very satisfied and confident that Roberto is a very honest person and if anybody approaches him he will tell me because, if he feels the club is right and I feel the club is right, I will back him to the hilt," Whelan said.
"He's just one honest gentleman and that's very rare in football. I am not aware of any approach from Aston Villa or any other club at present, but if an approach comes Roberto will inform me.
"He's a very quick learner and he's going to go to one top club, that's for sure, and I will back him when that time comes. I would like to keep Roberto full stop at Wigan, but that won't be possible because of the interest in him and how he's revolutionised Wigan again this year."
As things stand, though, Whelan expects to start next season with Martínez in charge. "At this particular time, definitely, yes," he said. Read More
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