Wigan expected to confirm Martinez appointment
Wigan are expected to officially announce this evening that Roberto Martinez is their new manager.
Martinez, 35, is leaving Swansea to succeed Steve Bruce, who moved to Sunderland last week.
With owner Dave Whelan returning from holiday today, Martinez is due to put pen to paper on a three-year deal. He is scheduled to be unveiled at a press conference tomorrow afternoon.
Whelan has already admitted he is “very excited” about securing the Spaniard’s services.
Whelan successfully negotiated terms for Martinez’s release from Swansea before holding talks with the former Wigan player.
The deal was effectively sealed at the start of the week and last night Whelan confirmed it was done.
“I am very excited about securing the services of Roberto Martinez,” Whelan told Sky Sports News.
Whelan believes the Spaniard can be a major success after stepping up for his first job in the Barclays Premier League.
“I hold him in the highest regard,” Whelan added.
“Tomorrow we will meet to discuss, amongst other things, finding transfer funds for new players.”’
When Bruce left the club last week to join Sunderland, the Latics pocketed substantial compensation in return for letting him move to Wearside. A large proportion of that will now be paid to Swansea.
Martinez guided Swansea to the League One title in 2007-08 before steering them to an eighth-placed finish in the Coca-Cola Championship in the season just ended.
He joined Wigan in 1995 and stayed six years, plying his trade in England’s lower leagues before eventually turning his hand to coaching and management.
