Whelan wants compensation as Everton eye Martinez

Talks had been ongoing between the pair over the last week since relegation from the Barclays Premier League followed their historic FA Cup win.

Martinez has been linked with the vacant job at Goodison Park ever since David Moyes was announced as Sir Alex Ferguson’s successor at Manchester United and the Toffees made their move on Friday.

That appears to have persuaded the Wigan manager the time was right to end his four-year association with the club and, although Whelan will not stand in the way of the 39-year-old, he will demand compensation.

Martinez remains in his post for the time being but Whelan said: “Roberto wants to move on and I have got to accept it.

“Everton rang me and I said they have permission to talk to him. I would never stop Roberto talking to football clubs.

“We will let him go but he’s on a 12-month rolling contract so if he moves someone will have to buy him out of his final year.

“We are still friends, we will always be good friends and he will always be a friend of Wigan Athletic.”

Whelan said the club’s relegation had been the main factor in Martinez’s decision to seek a new challenge.

“He does not feel he is up to the task of getting us back into the Premier League,” added the Wigan chairman.

“Football is football and I understand where he is coming from.

“Everton are a nice club and have a great chairman in Bill (Kenwright) and he is an honest man.”

Whelan had hoped to hang on to Martinez after the pair met on Thursday and the Spaniard had made certain requests about improving the club’s training ground and youth development.

That appeared to put the ball in the chairman’s court but having had the weekend to think about things Martinez decided he could not continue.

Blackburn’s new permanent manager Gary Bowyer insists stability is key for the club’s future and he hopes to benefit from patience all round.

Rovers went through five different managers last season – with Bowyer twice taking temporary charge – but having been asked to step into the main job with a 12-month rolling contract the 41-year-old wants to calm things down.

Asked whether he had any reservations about accepting the offer from owners Venky’s, he said: “You mean am I crazy?

“It was a no brainer for me, I had to take this opportunity.

“I have been at the club for a long time and I’ve seen the success over the years and I know what the foundations of that success were.

“I enjoyed it last season and I want to crack on now. As long as I keep winning matches I’ll stay in the job. Nothing has changed in the demands required.”