Roberto Martinez is STAYING at Wigan - after snubbing Aston Villa and a double-your-money contract .
The Spaniard pledged his future to delighted Latics owner Dave Whelan in a summit meeting, leaving Villa managerless and in a major crisis.
Martinez thought long and hard over the move to a bigger club with better facilities, but in the end he stayed loyal to Whelan - because he had stuck by him in the past.
The young boss felt Whelan had been strong during a hard 2010-2011 season, in which Martinez could have been sacked in the first few weeks after a nightmare start and was also in danger at other times.
The Latics were often in the bottom three for much of the campaign but Whelan never flinched in his support and the pair ended the season triumphant - and in a warm embrace.
A Villa statement confirmed: "Roberto met with his chairman earlier this week and he made the decision to honour his commitment to Wigan."
Martinez, 37, has established a reputation for attractive football during two years in charge at Wigan and in an earlier, promotion-winning stint at Swansea.
He also spoke often of his commitment to Latics' and their youthful squad during the recently-concluded campaign.
Villa started to court him earlier this week after their interest in Steve McClaren and Rafael Benitez cooled, and they were given permission to speak to him by Whelan.
The Villa statement added: "The club would like to thank Wigan Athletic Football Club and its chairman, Dave Whelan, for their professionalism in dealing with our request to speak to Roberto Martinez.
"Roberto's qualities as a young and aspirational manager ensured him of a position high on our shortlist of potential new managers.
"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.
"We remain focused and are working hard to secure the best candidate for Aston Villa who will complement the club's commitment to be true to our heritage, competitiveness and passionate fanbase, and will have the new manager in place to prepare the players for the pre-season programme and next season's campaign."
Whelan has admitted he expects Martinez to move on to a bigger club in future, but the offer of a new deal has persuaded him to stay loyal.
Whelan had been hopeful earlier in the day that Martinez would stay. He told Sky Sports News: "This is not all about money because Roberto is not a greedy man.
"Managers and footballers have a reputation of greed and it is assumed they are all like that. He has sentiment and feelings and has a great respect for the operation at Wigan Athletic.''
Villa must now look at alternative candidates.
Bolton's Owen Coyle was previously linked with the job, but Mark Hughes does not appear to have been in the frame despite his recent resignation from Fulham.
http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Roberto-Martinez-snubs-Aston-Villa-to-stay-at-Wigan-article746061.html
