Martinez weighs up offer from Liverpool

LIVERPOOL’S HUNT for a new manager could be over after it emerged that Roberto Martínez was set to announce his future plans tomorrow.

Wigan will hold a press conference this week in which Martínez is expected to announce whether or not he will stay at the club.

The 38-year-old met Liverpool’s owners in Miami on Thursday to discuss the managerial vacancy and was not put off by the huge challenge that would confront any new manager. However, it is understood Martínez has not made up his mind whether to accept that challenge and will decide by tomorrow.

Wigan Athletic chairman Dave Whelan claimed on Friday the Spaniard had received an offer from Liverpool’s principal owner John Henry after the Miami talks.

Doubts emerged over Whelan’s interpretation of the situation, with Liverpool refusing to comment amid the general belief no formal offer had been made.

Martínez’s appointment would doubtless divide opinion among Liverpool supporters, some of whom may have been expecting a bigger name to be recruited to replace Kenny Dalglish.

But club captain Steven Gerrard, on England duty, has already pledged his full support to Martínez should he get the job.

“We’ll have to wait and see,” he said. “I’m aware Roberto Martínez has been talking to the club . . . If he is going to be the manager, he’s got my full support.”

Throughout the process, Whelan has insisted it was not a foregone conclusion he would lose his manager to Liverpool, claiming there were still problems – mainly surrounding working under a technical director – to be overcome before Martínez would be in a position to accept.

“He went to Miami and had a very constructive meeting with the owner of Liverpool,” said the Wigan chairman.

“They’re going to talk again on Tuesday. They’ve made Roberto an offer and he has agreed to consider it. He’s said, ‘what are my responsibilities?’ These are American owners and the rules and regulations are a bit different from what we English set down. Roberto is a seven-days-a-week, 12-hours-a-day worker . . . He has rules and regulations to be fully in charge of football . . . Hopefully, he stays with us but, wherever he goes, he’s 100 per cent dedicated to that football club.”

Meanwhile, West Brom are to step up their bid to make Birmingham boss Chris Hughton their manager.

The Baggies are poised to ask the Blues for permission to speak to Hughton in the next 24 to 48 hours.

Albion have held talks with former Chelsea manager Claudio Ranieri and ex-Manchester United and Chelsea midfielder Ray Wilkins as they seek a replacement for Roy Hodgson.

But it is understood Hughton remains the preferred option of Baggies chairman Jeremy Peace.