ROBERTO MARTINEZ IS A CLASS ACT

ROBERTO MARTINEZ got a culture shock when he turned up in Wigan 14 years ago, but he plans his own brand of soccer sophistication on his return.

Martinez was one of the "Three Amigos" signed by chairman Dave Whelan when the club languished in the fourth tier and played at Springfield Park in front of 1,700 fans.

Wigan have come a long way since Martinez, Isidro Diaz and Jesus Seba strutted their stuff at a dilapidated stadium once used for horse-trotting and wondered what they'd let themselves in for.

With Martinez now manager, apart from their first Premier League season in 2005, the next nine months are the most eagerly anticipated in the club's history.

Admirer

The Spaniard, 36, is considered the brightest young boss is Britain, having done a remarkable job in charge of Swansea.

The hype isn't just because he guided the Swans to the League One title in his first full season as boss, or that the Welsh outfit narrowly missed the Championship play-offs in May.

Martinez's side played cool, calm and collected football that won him praise and comparisons with Arsene Wenger.

Martinez prefers to mould himself on countryman Pep Guardiola, another overnight managerial success, at Barcelona. But his true inspiration is Roy Hodgson.

Martinez, who spent six seasons marshalling Wigan's midfield, said: "I am a big admirer of what Roy has done in his career. Not many people can adapt so well to different environments. He's a football gentleman, and a winner."

Martinez's first job in the Wigan hot-seat is to prevent the club becoming a revolving door for players who use the Premier League's most unfashionable club as a showcase.

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Emile Heskey, Wilson Palacios and Antonio Valencia have all done that. And Martinez knows he could face a similar situation at the club with the lowest average home gate in the top flight.

Martinez will have completely different ideas from predecessor Steve Bruce. The emphasis will be on passing the ball with confidence, and hopefully crowds will pick up.

Things needed freshening up at the newly-named DW Stadium and the rookie manager moved quickly in the transfer market, spending more than £7million on Jason Scotland, Jordi Gomez, James McCarthy and Hendry Thomas.

Freefall

There's a feeling Wigan may be the division's surprise package this season. A lot will depend on how Bruce's players adapt to Martinez's energising ideas.

Passing teams to death is beautiful on the eye, but could be hell for players like Titus Bramble, who signed a three-year contract last month. If Bramble is given freedom and told to take his time on the ball, you dread to think where it might end up.

Ultimately Wigan's fate will depend on whether they score goals. After a scoring drought in the second half of last seasonthey went from European contenders into freefall.

Wigan took just 14 points from the last 18 matches, but their finish of 11th was their second highest in the Premier League.

Martinez, who walked out on Swansea with most of his backroom team, has returned to his former club to sign Scotland.

The striker was electric in the Championship but he is the wrong side of 30 and has never played at the top level in England.

Irish teenager McCarthy, signed last month from Hamilton, was one of the most talked-about youngsters in Scottish football and had caught the eye of Liverpool and Manchester United.

He said: "We have some absolutely fabulous characters at this club, top, top professionals. I knew that, of course, but until you work with them day in, day out, you don't realise what quality players they are."

BIG HOPE: That all the hype over new boss Roberto Martinez proves well founded.

KEY IN: Jordi Gomez (Espanyol, £1.7m)

KEY OUT: Antonio Valencia (Man U, £16m)

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