MARTINEZ BACKED FOR REDS ROLE; Martinez backed to take Reds job by skipper Caldwell.

Byline: PHIL KIRKBRIDE

ROBERTO MARTINEZ has won a ringing endorsement to take charge at Liverpool from the man who leads his current side as reports emerge that the Spaniard is set to hold a Press conference regarding his future tomorrow.

Martinez remains the leading candidate to replace the sacked Kenny Dalglish after meeting the Reds' principal owner John W Henry in Boston last week though the ECHO understands the club have yet to make him . an offer, contrary to reports last week. Martinez's chairman at Wigan Athletic Dave Whelan, who claimed Liverpool had tabled a deal for Martinez to mull over, is expecting a decision on his future from the Spaniard by tomorrow.

Although the 38-year-old Latics boss is yet to break his silence on the matter, he is amongst the favourites to take to the Anfield hot-seat and Wigan captain Gary Caldwell has backed him to be a success on Merseyside, should he be given the job. Caldwell also says an offer from a club with the history and prestige of Liverpool is one you do not turn down and believes Martinez would also be thinking like this. "If the opportunity comes to go to Liverpool, you take it," said Caldwell.

"We all understand that. I'm sure he would take it," said Caldwell. "Roberto Martinez has a great future ahead of him. When you beat Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal in the space of a couple of weeks it gets you recognition and hype and he deserves it "Nothing fazes him.

He stays very calm. Having worked with a lot of Scottish and British managers, you see the tea cups being thrown and stuff. "But he's from Spain and it's a different culture and mentality and he remains very calm. He has what it takes to manage a club such as Liverpool. If that big job comes now then he has to go and show he is good enough." Wigan have flirted with relegation in each of Martinez's three season in charge but has kept the side in the Premier League on a limited budget. Caldwell believes with decent financial backing, Martinez could achieve great things and says he could in no way begrudge his manager taking the job.

"Having worked with him and knowing his tactical awareness and the thought he puts into training, then who knows what he could go on and achieve at a big club like Liverpool with their resources?" he asked. "Only time will tell. We all live in the real world and you need an opportunity in life." ?

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CANDIDATE: Wigan's Roberto Martinez