Martinez gets Whelan backing

Wigan owner Dave Whelan insists that he has ‘every faith’ in manager Roberto Martinez’s ability to win the club’s fight against relegation.

Wigan is currently bottom of the Premier League table and ahead of a crunch match against fellow strugglers Queens Park Rangers, who have a new manager in charge in the shape of Mark Hughes, the sports retail tycoon has expressed strong support for his Spanish manager.

“One thing is guaranteed and that is that we will never give up until the end of the season and that is down to Roberto who I think the world of,” Whelan told Goal.com.

“Roberto has got all the lads fully with him and as long as they fight to the death I will be happy and Roberto will be happy. I have every faith in Roberto as well. He is a good man and a brilliant manager.”

Martinez rejected the chance to move to Aston Villa last summer and Whelan believes that Wigan’s struggles this season need to be seen in perspective.

“You’ve got to remember that every season is a tough season for Wigan Athletic,” said Whelan.

“Every season is a tough season for Wigan in that Premier League. We have to accept that – we are the smallest club in the Premier League. We have been in there for seven seasons.”

“We were forecast to stay up for one year and we have been there for seven and that is a remarkable achievement that we have managed to stay up for seven consecutive seasons.”

Wigan lost 1-0 against table-topping Manchester City last Monday to extend their winless sequence to six games but Whelan is remaining upbeat about his club’s chances of prolonging their stay in the top flight of English football.

“I was given a lot of cause for optimism against City who are a very, very good side and will probably end up winning the Premier League,” Whelan added.

“We fought like hell in the second half and we would have got at least a point had it not been for Joe Hart who pulled off an amazing save and as long as we keep fighting and keep showing that spirit then we will have a chance of staying up.”

“It will be tougher than ever but we did it last year and I am hopeful that we can do it again if we all continue to pull together like we did against Manchester City. If we stayed up that would be another remarkable achievement.”