Martinez closes in on top job

It is the news that all Wigan fans have waited for since the story broke that Roberto Martinez was being lined up by Dave Whelan to replace Steve Bruce as manager. It has been a long and drawn out saga with both Wigan and Swansea both at loggerheads over Martinez's future. The issue over the backroom staff has been solved with Whelan agreeing to pay Swansea the compensation fee for assistant manager, and former Latics hero, Graeme Jones, head scout Kevin Reeves, goalkeeping coach Inaki Bergara and masseur Oscar Brau.

This issue was probably always going to be solved with Martinez having a lot of faith in his team who has helped him take Swansea to the Championship and give the club plenty of admirers. The compensation fee was always a big haggling point and Swansea chairman Huw Jenkins believes that both sides are unhappy with the fee but glad that the matter is resolved.

Speaking to the Swansea official website, Jenkins said ''I don't think both clubs are totally happy with the final compensation figure agreed for the backroom staff,

''But I think both clubs realise that this matter now needs to be concluded so that we can move on and prepare for the new season.''

The news should be confirmed by tomorrow that Martinez is the new manager and this should hopefully see the start of, what should be, an interesting summer in the transfer market for the club.

Paul Scharner has already expressed his desire to leave and Antonio Valencia should be a Manchester United player come the new season. Lee Cattermole is being linked with Sunderland to link up with Steve Bruce and Titus Bramble could well head in the same direction. The Cattermole and Bramble stories are pure speculation at the moment but, if there is foundation to the stories, expect to see plenty of comings and goings at the DW Stadium this summer.

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