Everton to speak to Martinez

Everton are set to meet with Roberto
Martinez in the next 48 hours to discuss
the vacant managerial position at Goodison
Park, according to Sky sources.
Martinez is a short-priced favourite with
bookmakers to succeed David Moyes as
Everton boss, although the Merseyside
club are also considering two other
remaining candidates.
The Spaniard has decided to leave Wigan
and has been given permission to speak to
the Toffees by Latics chairman Dave
Whelan.
Martinez told Whelan at a meeting on
Tuesday that he wanted to move on after
four years at the helm.
Whelan will not stand in the way of the 39-
year-old, who led Wigan to a memorable
1-0 victory over Manchester City in the FA
Cup final before they were relegated from
the Premier League, but he will demand a
reported £2million in compensation.
"Roberto wants to move on and I have got
to accept it," said Whelan.
"Everton rang me and I said they have
permission to talk to him. I would never
stop Roberto talking to football clubs.
"We will let him go but he's on a 12-month
rolling contract so if he moves someone
will have to buy him out of his final year.
"We are still friends, we will always be
good friends and he will always be a friend
of Wigan Athletic."
Whelan said the club's relegation had been
the main factor in Martinez's decision to
seek a new challenge.
"He does not feel he is up to the task of
getting us back into the Premier League,"
added the Wigan chairman.
"Football is football and I understand
where he is coming from.
"Everton are a nice club and have a great
chairman in Bill (Kenwright) and he is an
honest man."