Football: Liverpool in approach for Wigan coach Martinez
LONDON: Liverpool were given permission by
Wigan Athletic on Thursday to talk to coach Roberto Martinez about
becoming the next manager at Anfield, a day after Kenny Dalglish
was sacked.
“He’s going there with an open mind,” Wigan chairman Dave Whelan
told Sky Sports News.
“We would love to keep Roberto, he’s a great manager. But there
are two or three clubs looking for a new manager and Roberto is on
the list for all of them. If Liverpool are serious, then we may
lose him.”
The 38-year-old Martinez left Swansea City to take over at Wigan
in 2009 and has been widely praised for keeping the modest
Lancashire club in the Premier League.
Wigan stayed in the top flight this season after wins over
Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester United and Newcastle United in their
final eight games helped them to a respectable 15th in the
league—seven points clear of relegation.
“When Liverpool phoned me I was actually with Roberto having a
meeting on what we are doing next season,” added Whelan.
“I did promise Roberto and I have always said when a big club
comes he would have permission to talk to them and they don’t come
any bigger than Liverpool.
“I gave him permission and he will be talking to them soon – I
don’t know when, but quite soon. When Liverpool sacked Kenny I have
to say I thought Liverpool would be knocking on the door and sure
enough they are.”
Dalglish, who had returned for a second stint as manager at
Anfield in January last year, paid the price for a dismal season
that saw Liverpool finish 37 points behind champions Manchester
City.
The Merseyside club’s American owners the Fenway Sports Group
(FSG) had given Dalglish more than £100 million ($159m) to spend in
the transfer market since he took over from the sacked Roy Hodgson
in 2011.
But expensive signings such as Andy Carroll, Stewart Downing and
Jordan Henderson largely flopped and Liverpool’s eighth-place
finish was their worst season-ending position for nearly two
decades, with their lowest points tally since 1954.
They defeated second-tier Cardiff City on penalties in the
League Cup final but lost 2-1 to Chelsea in the FA Cup final
earlier this month.
Dalglish voiced his gratitude to fans for their show of support
following his dismissal.
In a message on Twitter, he wrote: “Overwhelmed by the support
of the fans. Always been special but even more so now. Thank you
from the bottom of my heart. YNWA (You’ll
Never Walk Alone) and I never have.”
Earlier on Thursday, the 61-year-old told the Liverpool Echo
that fans needed to show support to the club’s American owners.
“I would hope nobody would prejudge things now,” Dalglish told
the Echo. “The owners have their own reasons for doing what they
have done.
“They came in to help the club at a time when it wasn’t in a
great condition. They have improved it, taken it forward and are
doing the best they can.
“Liverpool is still a great football club, still a club that
should believe in whoever is going to come in after myself.
“The supporters, not just for myself but for everyone else, have
always been fantastically supportive of the team and that should
not change.”
-AFP/ac
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i wonder how liverpool fans feel now. go one big round and end
up with martinez? they should have just stick with roy hodgson.
