Jenkins Holds Firm Over Compensation

Huw Jenkins has stood his ground over the shambles that is Wigan Athletic's attempts at unveiling their new manager Roberto Martinez.

While Sky Sports News were hoping to capture the live press conference and official announcement of Martinez's appointment, they were let down. The Spaniard was missing, and the only thing the chief executive Brenda Spencer could offer the media was tea and biscuits while they waited.

Then, she tried blaming everything on the Swans, unfortunately Ms Spencer, we're not going to just you offer you our backroom staff to you, why was it our responsibility to tell you about them? They are our staff, staff which we were hoping to keep. It was Wigan's responsibility to sort out the compensation and appointment of them as well.

Martinez is joining Wigan regardless of whether they appoint the backroom staff, but Huw Jenkins is holding firm, and is refusing to sign his release until we receive compensation.

Wigan and Mr Whelan should remember that we are losing 5 members of staff here it seems - the whole structure of our management team. We're losing an important assistant manager in Graeme Jones as well as a superb scout in Kevin Reeves, who worked hard around Europe finding bargain buys such as Ferrie Bodde, Angel Rangel and Jason Scotland.

Dave Whelan says he is refusing to pay any more compensation to Swansea City for the extra staff. I think he'd better otherwise this will be ongoing for some time, and will severely hinder our pre-season preparations.

Our chairman Huw Jenkins has been superb during this fiasco. Compensation is required for Martinez, he has 4 years remaining on his contract, as well as the other staff and rightfully so, and Huw will not budge until he's paid the fair value of our departing employees.

Maybe Wigan are underestimating what Kevin Reeves and Graeme Jones will offer to their club next season as they continue to work alongside Roberto Martinez. I'm sure he won't perform as well without them.