Struggling Wigan give backing to under-fire manager Martinez

Nov 1, 2011, 9:10 GMT

London - Wigan Athletic manager Roberto Martinez has been given the unequivocal backing to get the side out of trouble after a difficult start to the season.

A run of seven consecutive defeats has left Wigan bottom of the Premier League but chairman Dave Whelan said the club 'can get out of this mess together.

'Roberto's position is never, ever in question,' Whelan said. 'We stay together.

'I respect him and I know I'm going to get 110 per cent from Roberto every time the team takes the field. Things are going against us but we have to keep battling on.

'My spirits are never down. We may be at the foot of the table right now, but we won't be at the end of the season.

'We can get out of this mess together. We're not fools, we can look at the table and we really have to rally round and do what we do best.'

Martinez will hope to begin climbing out of trouble by getting something from their trip to Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sunday.

'I feel that the squad is strong and that we will find the solution before (that) game,' he said. 'We will get ready for Wolves and we will get the first win that will allow us to start our season.

'What's quite clear is that this squad of players ready to take on the challenge and once we get the win that we deserve we can get rid of the negativity and we will be able to really start our season and have a good long run in the league.'

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