Martinez to remain as Wigan manager

London: Roberto Martinez will remain as manager of Wigan Athletic despite interest from Aston Villa over their managerial vacancy, a statement on the Midlands club's official website can confirm.

Despite speculation linking Steve McClaren and Mark Hughes with the Villains job, club owner Randy Lerner's first concrete moves to fill the position was to begin talks with Lactics boss Martinez.

The 37-year-old Spaniard had been installed as the bookies favourite, having received numerous plaudits for securing Wigan's Premier League survival on the final day of the season.

However with one remaining year on his contract at the DW Stadium, the former Swansea City boss has decided to honour his agreement with club chairman Dave Whelan.

An official statement on the Aston Villa website said: "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 short list 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."

Martinez's decision will no doubt come as a major blow to the Aston Villa hierarchy, with Lerner having already appeared to rule out the likes of Hughes and McClaren.

The statement continued: "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 fan base, and will have the new manager in place to prepare the players for the pre-season programme and next season's campaign.

Martinez himself has spoken out over the talks and has insisted that he has unfinished business as the club he joined as a player in 1995.

He told Wigan's official website:"Over the last two years the Chairman has been very supportive to me and loyal, and now I feel I need to be loyal and supportive back to him.

"I haven't finished my job at Wigan Athletic; there is much work still to be done, I don't know how long that will take but such is the belief that I have always had that I would only ever decide to move once the club is ready for a new manager."

Latics chief executive Jonathan Jackson has expressed his delight over the news.

He said: "We are delighted that Roberto will be continuing the hard work he and his staff started back in 2009, and as a club we are all looking forward with excitement to our seventh season in the Barclays Premier League.

"We at Wigan Athletic; the staff, players and fans, all have a role to play in continuing the progression and growth of our club, and having Roberto at the heart of that process is hugely important."