Publications
Partners
London - Wigan manager Roberto Martinez was given permission by his club on Thursday to speak to Liverpool about filling the job vacated by Kenny Dalglish's dismissal.
The approach came while Wigan chairperson Dave Whelan was with Martinez, a day after Dalglish was fired following Liverpool's disappointing season in which they finished eighth in the English Premier League.
"I did promise Roberto ... when a big club comes he will have permission to talk to them," Whelan told British broadcaster Sky Sports. "They don't come any bigger than Liverpool, so I gave him permission and he will be talking to them soon. I don't know when."
The 38-year-old Spaniard has been in charge of Wigan since 2009 and presided over a series of late victories to keep the northwest team in the Premier League earlier this month.
"Roberto has the opportunity to go and manage a massive club in Liverpool, so the decision would be entirely Roberto's," Whelan said.
"We did speak about Liverpool. Liverpool has undergone some changes in the last two years, some massive changes, and I still think they need to settle down as a football club."
Whelan claimed there is "no heart" at Liverpool "at present" as the Boston Red Sox Ownership group steps up its overhaul of senior personnel after having bought the club in October 2010.
"It's deeply disturbing when you think a football club as big as Liverpool is functioning without a heart," Whelan said. "I mentioned that to Roberto and I think it's true - there is no heart beating in Liverpool at present."
