Chairman Whelan says he is fully behind manager Martinez

Wigan chairman Dave Whelan has warned the club's fans that they could risk his departure if they were to call for the sacking of boss Roberto Martinez.

Manager Martinez was under pressure after Wigan's first two Premier League games of the season in which they lost twice and also conceded 10 goals.

But following victory at Tottenham, that pressure has eased slightly.

"I rate Roberto highly and said to the fans, if you want his head, you'll get mine as well," Whelan told BBC Sport.

The Latics opened their season with a 4-0 loss to Blackpool at the DW Stadium and followed that up with a 6-0 defeat to Chelsea. before winning 1-0 at White Hart Lane on Saturday.

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Following those two defeats, some bookmakers made Martinez, who joined the club as manager at the start of last season, the favourite to become the first Premier League manager to be sacked this term.

But Whelan, who appointed Martinez on a three-year deal in June 2009, has given the 37-year-old Spaniard his unconditional support.

"Had they insisted, and even if we would have lost at Tottenham and they start crying for his head and had he asked to go, I would definitely have resigned with him," added Whelan, who is also Wigan's owner, on BBC Radio 5 Live.

In 1995, Whelan bought Wigan - then in the old third division - with the club winning promotion to the Premier League 10 years later.

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