First training session for Martinez
Roberto Martinez was this morning overseeing his first training session as Latics manager – while wondering if his attempts to sign Jason Scotland from Swansea have been successful.
After weeks of speculation, Latics have finally tabled a bid believed to be in the region of 1.5m for the 30-year-old striker.
And Swansea chairman Huw Jenkins last night appeared resigned to the prospect of losing his leading goalscorer from the past two seasons.
He told the Evening Post: "We have received a written bid from Wigan, which we are now considering.
"I remain open-minded, but we all knows what happens in football.
"Jason and his agent have made their wishes felt that he would like to try his luck in the Premier League.
"We'll discuss the content of the bid and make a decision in the next day or so."
The swoop will be a further blow to the Swans, who have
already seen Martinez and his backroom team depart for Wigan and last year's star player Jordi Gomez follow suit.
However, Martinez remained as good as his word in not making a move on any of his former players unless they were already in the open market.
Jenkins revealed: "It's the first bid from Wigan, but the second we've had for the player.
"The first came in from Burnley, which we rejected out of hand."
The rumour-mongers had a field day when Scotland was left behind as the rest of the Swansea squad left for their pre-season tour of Portugal
earlier in the week.
Jenkins, though, insists the player's groin injury – picked up on international duty with Trinidad & Tobago – is 100% genuine and unrelated to yesterday's developments.
Latics' bid for Scotland was tabled only hours after Martinez had outlined his intentions to add to his squad's firepower.
After the exit of Amr Zaki, Mido and Henri Camara, only Hugo Rodallega remains of the recognised strikers at the club.
And Martinez even hinted there could be an opportunity for forgotten man Marlon King to stake a claim for a spot after spending last season on loan at Hull and Middlesbrough.
"We are looking for competition for places in every department," Martinez said.
"We are very strong in midfield, but we probably need to strengthen in the wide areas and up front.
"But just as important as getting new players is making sure the players already here are ready for the new season.
"Everyone at the club will start with a clean slate.
"I am not here to make footballing decisions on my own, I will be assessing the decisions that the players make.
"Every player will have a chance to do that."
Martinez could not hide his delight at finally seeing the whites of his players' eyes as they reported back from their summer break this morning.
The Spaniard has been relishing the opportunity to sit down and discuss future plans with each and every member of the playing staff – as well as putting them through their paces at Christopher Park.
"We have to make sure the players handle the adaptation back to work," he added.
"The players have obviously had their off-season, and their bodies will have got used to that.
"Now we have to gradually get them ready for the maximum intensity of the training."
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Weather for Wigan
Friday 10 February 2012
Today
Light snow
Temperature: -6 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: -1 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 6 mph
Wind direction: South
