Martinez was offered the job at Villa Park last summer but turned it down- will he get a second chance?
Wigan Athletic owner Dave Whelan has confirmed today that manager Roberto Martinez will part ways with the club in the summer, as part of a desire to ‘freshen things up’ whether they are relegated or not.
So where will Martinez look to go next?
The standout option, should he seek to remain in the Premier League, would remain Aston Villa.
He was offered the job last summer but decided to turn it down and remain loyal to Wigan, having just kept them up.
Aston Villa ended up going for Alex McLeish, but his managerial stint has been every bit as divisive as fans expected.
Just 30,000 attended Villa Park on Easter Monday for their home clash with Stoke, an alarmingly low crowd, which will spell trouble to owner Randy Lerner.
Villa have won just one home game since November, and have only avoided being sucked into the relegation dogfight by the skin of their teeth.
With supporters unhappy over McLeish’s negative style of football, Martinez would present an ideal antidote.
Would he get the fans back through the gates? Many are staying away simply because of McLeish’s Birmingham City connections, and making the Spaniard an offer has to be worth considering.
Does he have what it takes to succeed at a bigger club than Wigan? There is only one way to find out. Surely he couldn’t do any worse than McLeish has this season.
He has done very well at Wigan to get the most out of an extremely limited squad of players, and to be so close to avoiding relegation is a credit to him. regardless of whether he fails eventually.
Other options for Martinez could include Swansea- his former club, if Brendan Rodgers leaves for a bigger job, but right now that does not seem likely and Villa could be his best option.
Would you like to see him in charge at Villa Park next season? Let us know.
Who do you want in charge at Villa Park next season?
image: © illarterate
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