Martinez “surprised” by Bruce sacking

Wigan manager Roberto Martinez admits he was surprised by Steve Bruce’s sacking at Sunderland on Wednesday.

Bruce’s last game in charge at the Stadium of Light was against Martinez’s side on Saturday, with the Black Cats surrendering a first-half lead to lose 2-1 thanks to Franco Di Santo’s stoppage-time winner.

The former Manchester United centre-back was the first managerial casualty of the Premier League season, and Martinez could only empathise with the former Birmingham boss.

“That was a little bit of a surprise,” Martinez told Sky Sports News. “It’s been a big turnaround in the summer.”

“It’s been a lot of players coming into that dressing room. You don’t really know what’s happening in other football clubs, but you feel that time is needed when you bring a lot of players into the football club just for the players to settle in, to feel themselves and how they can perform at their best. That always takes time.”

Martinez, whose Wigan side is still two point behind Sunderland in 19th despite Saturday’s win, said he doubted the decision to remove Bruce was solely because of one bad result.

“When there is a change in management, in any football club, it’s because you’re in the middle of a wrong dynamic of results,” Martinez said. “It’s never for one result. That would never happen.”

“You need to ask the people who make those decisions. They’ve got their ideas and their own targets and that goes over a period of time. I’ve never seen a change of management due to one result.”

“In football, unfortunately, nothing surprises you anymore. Stability and patience are two words that are needed in a football club.”

Wigan’s struggle against relegation continues away to fellow battlers West Brom on Saturday.