Time to map out a plan for Villa's future
- Says blogger Matthew Turvey
Roberto Martinez turns down Villa
Friday 10th June 2011, 12:30PM BST.
Roberto Martinez today delivered a massive snub to Villa after rejecting the chance to become the club’s manager and instead deciding to stay at Wigan.
As revealed in yesterday’s Express & Star, sources close to the Spaniard indicated that he would always remain at the DW Stadium, despite efforts by owner Randy Lerner to persuade him to take the job.
Martinez had promised to ‘sleep on it’ but his decision to turn down the job is a crushing blow to Lerner, who has been frustrated in his attempts to find Gerard Houllier’s successor.
Villa first made contact with Wigan by e-mail nine days ago over his availability and Martinez held talks by telephone with the claret and blues over the past couple of days.
Lerner outlined his vision to Martinez but the Wigan boss admitted that he felt a sense of duty to remain with the Latics.
He said: “Over the last two years the chairman has been very supportive to me and loyal and now I feel I need to be loyal and supportive back to him.”
Villa confirmed in a statement today that Martinez had been a strong contender for the position but they will now turn their attentions elsewhere.
The statement read: “Roberto’s qualities as a young and aspirational manager assured him of a position high on our short list.
“Given that he had one year remaining on his contract at Wigan, we made an official approach through the proper channels, though we were aware of a commitment he had made to his club to agree and sign a new contract following the final game of last season.
“Roberto met with his chairman earlier this week and he has made the decision to honour his commitment to Wigan.
“Therefore, we have not met Roberto and we have not had the opportunity to discuss the vacant managerial role with him.”
While Villa moved on to other targets, Wigan chairman Dave Whelan claimed Martinez was never close to defecting.
Whelan today celebrated a major coup after the Spaniard turned down Villa to stay with the Latics, where he has been promised a new three-year contract and improved training facilities.
And Whelan said: “Roberto is such a straight guy, an honest guy and so easy to deal with.
“He just deals in football and money is an after thought. He thinks about money, as we all do as professionals, but we got a very quick agreement.
“His first thought was could he have better facilities for his players and we have agreed to do that.
“Wigan people will like this and I think Roberto is showing that football isn’t all greed and everything people think it is.
“It’s a game and there is loyalty in it. I don’t think we were ever that close to losing him but he had to consider his future as a football person.
“Villa are a big club and when a club like them want your services it’s something to be proud of.”
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“There are clubs a lot bigger than Villa that will come in for him”
Wolves won’t be one, we’re happy with the progress we’re making under Mick McCarthy.
If Martinez does decide stay at Wigan you could give Dave Jones a nudge, unless, I missed something and he’s already turned you down like Ancellotti, Hughes and McClaren
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Lord custard bowl – progress? you finished 15th last year and then 17th next? Thats not progress, your going backwards. 15th, 17th = 19th next year
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Hope the Vile fans are happy that their online campaign to stop McClaren succeeded. Not a lot out there for their ‘big’ club now.
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You missed something yes. We decided not to interview McClaren, Ancellotti wants a break for 12 months and Hughes is still in the frame. We hadn’t offered Martinez the job just an interview. I guess we’ll now interview the rest who are in the frame.
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What a mess……I don’t think Hughes turned Villa down though. The way things are going we are gonna end up with MCLAREN. I blame MARTIN SWAIN!!
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sadly villa’s way of selling all there best players appears to be costing them dearly in recruiting a new manager.. the purchase of darren bent was a bit of a smoke screen for the villa fans to hide the fact that all other jewels in the crown were off. once downing and yound leave im afraid youll be lucky to get glenn roeder to steer the ship!!
U.T.W!!
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A. Wolves are a lot smaller than Villa
B. Everyone is happy with MM’s progress at Wolves: nothing other than promotion in a poor season for the Championship. Staying up on the last day? Marvellous!
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Martinez was never actually offered the job as Villa never spoke to him. Fair play for not letting facts get in the way of a good story.
Lord Molineux,
Villa have not approached Hughes or McClaren yet, despite what sensationalist journalist’s would have you believe. Ancellotti was always going to be a non starter.
I’d be shocked if it wasn’t Hughes. He should have been no 1 choice anyway.
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I have always had a soft spot for Villa.and wish them luck. but something is definitely not right with all these managers turning them down have they lost ambition or have they not got a CEO who can sell the clubs ambitions. its not good for incoming managers to see there top players leaving whilst they are searching for a new boss….the future looks bleak for Villa.
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I was only saying yesterday that Villa will have to settle for Dave Jones.
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Very honourable ….. and he knows which side his bread is buttered !
Dave Whelan has stood by him and has repeatedly said he would never sack him, even if Wigan were relegated and didnt bounce back.
Two honourable blokes – a rare partnership in modern football.
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if bigger clubs than villa are going to come in for him its obvious wolves wont be one talk about stating the obvious. progress under macCarthy you`re having a laugth.
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Have to agree 100% with Judge Jeffries (11)- very commendable.
My vote goes to Avram :D
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Best manager out there at the moment for my money has to be Houghton (as long as Jol does not make him his number two) I cant see has he did a lot wrong at Newcastle, certainly didn’t merit the old tin tack!
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A few good points, who do you think will come if the quality players are sold? who will sign if you have no manager. Need to get this sorted, you play decent football and need a guy that appreciates that, Dave Jones would not be a bad choice if he got the time to rebuild.
As for the comments on Wolves, need to remember where we were when MM showed up.
If any other club in the Midlands can recover as we have then they would be praising the 3Ms.
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Young and downing on the move, no keeper, other players don’t want to play for the club, deluded fans thinking they were actually going to get Ancelotti and anyone less won’t be accepted…who would want to manage a club in turmoil?
I wonder how long it is before Darren Bent hands in a transfer request…….
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Check the Facts Gaz, its the points total that made the progression. We won the championship quite easy 3 seasons ago. We got 38 points last sesaon and we got 40 points this season. Is that not progression?!?!!
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Martinez has done the right thing for himself, Wigan and indeed Villa. For himself, he has given himself more time to develop in an environment where he is under little pressure, for Wigan by showing loyalty, and for Villa in not taking on a job for which he was not yet equiped (IMHO).
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wolfielee
So if you had gone down with more points than the previous season you would still class that as progression? It’s where you stand amongst your peers that shows progression mate.
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This is not about Villa that are still a great club.
This is about loyalty to a chairman that has shown great faith in this Manager .
He has nicely paved the way to move on next season leaving the fans and current Wigan board proud to have had huis services for the past 4 years
just like Super Mick
UTW
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No this is about rats leaving a sinking ship and martinez knew this aswell ,you cannot blame him for not joining it seems it all fell to manure when GD was appointed manager i.e 24million for bent no chance and the board know this aswell !
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Lets face facts Guys and Gals! If Villa were in the Conference, they would still be BIGGER and BETTER than the whole of the rest of the West Midlands put together! Jealousy is a bad thing! Especially 30 years of it!
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22 Bilston Villan (or is it Villain ?)
Did you feel that ? You must have done, even in Bilston.
It was the wheel turning.
Your time is nearly over.
(Mind you, I don’t think you’ll drop as far as the Conference)
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No.22 Bilston-that’s a bold statement!!!!
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