Wigan Athletic chairman Dave Whelan still believes that Roberto Martinez will be the club's manager come next season.

The Spaniard is due to hold talks with Liverpool regarding the vacant position at Anfield, while Aston Villa are also rumoured to be interested in him becoming their new boss.

Whelan said that he has not given up hope of Martinez leading the Latics into the new season and has set a seven-day deadline from Tuesday for a decision to be made.

"Roberto will be in Barbados until next Tuesday, and I will then set a seven-day deadline by which time I will expect a decision," Whelan told the Wigan Evening Post.

"I appreciate everyone is in limbo at the moment and there will come a time soon when we'll need an answer one way or the other. It is dragging on a bit but I only care about one thing - that is the future of Wigan Athletic. Nothing else matters.

"I must stress to our supporters that I am by no means resigned to losing Roberto to Liverpool or any other club. He may go, he may not go. That will be up to Roberto and I will respect his decision either way, but it is not a foregone conclusion. Hand on heart, I still believe Roberto will be here next season."

Martinez took charge at the DW Stadium since 2009.