Wigan boss Roberto Martinez is on Liverpool shortlist

 

Wigan have given Liverpool permission to speak with boss Roberto Martinez about the managerial post at Anfield, Latics owner Dave Whelan has confirmed. 

Kenny Dalglish was sacked as Reds boss on Wednesday, leaving the club to search for a fourth boss in two years. 

"Liverpool rang us and asked for permission to speak to Roberto, which I've given," Whelan told BBC Sport. 

The Anfield hierarchy are approaching a number of candidates, with Swansea's Brendan Rodgers also on the shortlist. 

Whelan said he hoped Martinez would choose to stay at the DW Stadium but understands the Spaniard's popularity. 

"I'd love to keep him but if he wants to move to Liverpool I will have to say good luck," he explained. 

"When Liverpool sacked Kenny Dalglish I thought they would be looking around and they say they want a young, ambitious manager. You can't get one better than Roberto, so I expected them to call. 

"I think he's wonderful, the best manager I have ever worked with. 

"I was working with Roberto when I got the message. I told him there and then and asked if he wanted to speak to Liverpool and he said 'yes'. 

"I've always said a big club will come for him and I will release him immediately." 

Whelan called for any decision to be made swiftly and suggested Liverpool are no longer the club they once were. 

Owners Tom Werner and John W Henry are based in the United States, while the Reds are also looking for a director of football, a chief executive and a director of communications. 

Steve Clarke, Dalglish's assistant, handed in his resignation out of loyalty to the 61-year-old Scot, but it has been rejected. 

"It's all up to Liverpool and Roberto now," added Whelan. "If they do a deal I hope it's done quickly because we will have to replace Roberto and it's going to be very difficult. 

"The Liverpool hierarchy is non-existent at present. We played there about three months ago and there was not one soul in the boardroom. 

"There doesn't seem to be any heart in the club. I was a little disturbed because to me Liverpool is one of the great football clubs. 

"There's no heart beating in the club. You've got to put the heart in Liverpool." 

Werner and Henry are keen for the club's new manager to be in place for at least four to five years, but there is no front-runner at this stage. 

The new boss is likely to get a transfer budget of more than £30m. 

Intermediaries acting for the club have spoken with Andre Villas-Boas, but he is unlikely to get the job.