Roberto Martinez to make a decision on his future in the next 24 hours

Wigan Athletic chairman Dave Whelan expects Roberto Martinez to make a decision on his future in the next 24 hours.Aston Villa have approached the Spaniard to take over from Gerard Houllier who resigned recently on health grounds.Martinez has emerged as the favourite of Villa owner Randy Lerner to take over at Villa Park.Whelan granted Villa permission yesterday to talk to Martinez, but expects him to stay at the DW Stadium.
"I had a good meeting with Roberto yesterday and the decision whether he is going to stay or go is entirely in his hands," Whelan told BBC Radio 5 Live. "I will support him whichever way he wants to go. "I've offered him an extension to his contract and a better contract, because his current deal is down to a year."I have asked him to make a decision and tell me and the rest of the world, and I think he will be doing that in the next 24 hours. "My gut feeling is he will stay at Wigan, but he will move in 12 or 18 months or two years, and he will go to one of the top European clubs."He added: "You have got to be realistic about it. "If someone comes in - a big club like Villa - and says 'we are going to double your wages', a lot of people would jump and say 'I am going to do that'. "Roberto is not that kind of man. He thinks long and hard. He is into football hugely and is enjoying what he is doing at Wigan. "He has learned so much and taught me so much. Together, we are a great partnership."

Martinez given permission to speak to Aston Villa

Roberto Martinez is on brink of becoming the next Aston Villa manager.
The Wigan boss spoke to Villa on his return from a break in Barbados and is now in pole position to succeed Gerard Houllier, who left last week because of health problems.
Martinez, who was given permission by Wigan chairman Dave Whelan to talk to Villa, ticks all the boxes as far as owner Randy Lerner is concerned — especially when it comes to working on a tight budget.

Athletic Bilbao Want Roberto Martinez

According to the Daily Star, La Liga side Athletic Bilbao are interested in taking Wigan Athletic boss Roberto Martinez as a replacement for departing manager, Joaquin Caparros who is off to Atletico Madrid.Bilbao are an established La Liga side with a decent squad, they have qualified for next seasons Europa League competition and Inaki Bergara, Latics goalkeeping coach, played for and coached at Bilbao, so there is a connection, but it could all be a little too soon.Martinez has very strong ties to the Latics, when he says he has the club is in his heart he is telling the truth, he has started reshaping the club building a young, talented squad that can hold their own in the Premier League, investing heavily, time and effort, in the youth system, which he has renamed the development squad and he's got the first team playing a great style of football, on the ground without the big boot up field. He is rightly proud of what he`s starting to achieve at Wigan.

It is still work in progress though and the job is long haul, hopefully this and the fact that Martinez does have genuine feelings for the Latics will encourage him to stay put for the time being. He is a manager with a very bright future and enormous potential to go all the way to the top, here's hoping that the potential is developed for a while longer at the Latics.