Dave Whelan confident of Roberto Martinez stay despite relegation

Wigan Athletic chairman Dave Whelan is confident that manager Roberto Martinez will stay at the club despite their relegation to the Championship.

The Latics' drop into the second tier of English football was confirmed in their 4-1 defeat to Arsenal just days after their FA Cup triumph over Manchester City.

Whelan told talkSPORT: "Roberto knows how I feel about him and I know how Roberto feels about me and the club. He's a very, very loyal gentleman.

"When the day dawns - and it will - when he says, 'chairman, I want to go to this or that club', I will release him immediately. He is aware of that, and if that time is now, so be it.

"But somehow I don't think it will be. I'm just hoping Roberto waits and has another one or two years with us, because he will eventually go to a top European club."

Wigan finish their campaign with a home game against Aston Villa on Sunday.