Dave Whelan believes Roberto Martinez has already begun speaking to Liverpool's owners, but says he may not accept the job.
Whelan says manager will only accept job if he has total control
Wigan chairman Dave Whelan believes Roberto Martinez has already begun speaking to Liverpool's owners, but doubts whether he will accept the manager's job if he is not given the control he wants.
And while Whelan remains desperate to keep the highly-rated Spanish coach, he admits he has started to think about possible replacements.
Sky Sports sources revealed on Thursday lunchtime that Martinez would be
holding talks with John W Henry and his Fenway Sports Group colleagues in the next 36 hours.
Martinez is currently on holiday in Barbados and he is now thought to have taken time out to see the Reds owners.
"He has flown into Miami so I am assuming he is in a meeting with the American owners of Liverpool," Whelan confirmed on
Sky Sports News.
Total control
"I have given him permission and he is just carrying out that permission. He has to listen to what they are offering."
Whelan accepts that taking charge of Liverpool would be a fantastic opportunity for Martinez, but he has reservations about the club's owners and feels it could be difficult to reach a deal.
"I think it will depend on the attitude of the owners in America, because I don't think the owners from America fully understand the game of football in England," Whelan explained.
"We have to wait and see what they offer Roberto and what kind of control he has, because Roberto likes total control.
"If he doesn't get that I don't think he will take the job."
Moving quickly
Confirming that it would also cost Liverpool around £2million or £3million to buy out Martinez's contract, Whelan added that he had already started considering a possible successor at the DW Stadium.
"Hopefully he will stay with Wigan, but if not good luck to him," said Whelan.
"I have asked Roberto to make his mind up as quickly as possible, and if we do lose him I will move very quickly to appoint a successor.
"I have got ideas, but hopefully he will stay with us."
Reports have suggested former Porto and Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas has slipped out of the reckoning to replace Kenny Dalglish at Liverpool, while there are claims in Holland Louis van Gaal would prefer to be manager rather than technical director in the new set-up.
