Roberto Martinez planning to bring in fresh faces to replace Steve Bruce's 'dodgy' signings
Published 05:00 28/11/09 By Alan Nixon
Roberto Martinez wants chairman Dave Whelan's cash backing to re-build Wigan after the 'dodgy' signings left by Steve Bruce.
Boss Martinez has seen enough of his squad to know he must strengthen in the window and he hopes a week of self-analysis - and some shock criticism of his predecessor - will make owner Whelan realise he must splash out.
Whelan oversaw a handful of sales at the end of Bruce's reign at Wigan and now Martinez admits that those decisions have come back to haunt his men as they gear up for a survival fight.
The Wigan supremo controversially criticised some of Bruce's buys, branding them 'dodgy signings,' but Martinez would prefer to focus on the future and not the past.
The thoughtful Spaniard knows that unless Wigan get reinforcements they are looking at a fight to stay up and he said: "We are very thin in numbers, that is clear. It has always been my aim to bring in extra to help these players.
"It is going to be tough in January, but after that the last third of the campaign will be hard because of the demands on us. We need to be prepared for that.
"It's about bringing in the right characters and that is not because of the Tottenham defeat. It is the way I work and I am working 24 hours a day for this club."
Whelan's cutbacks - more than Bruce's arrivals - could be the reason for the potential problem but Martinez is hoping to bring in new faces without breaking his bank.
Martinez said: "We know exactly where we are and what we are. We have to be creative. We will look at things in a different way. We have our targets."
Latics may even sell again in the New Year with Honduras World Cup left back Maynor Figueroa set to head the exodus - and with Bruce desperate to take him to Sunderland.
But Martinez warned there will be no bargain deals and he will want a replacement first. He said: "We don't want to lose players, especially because of the size of our squad.
"In a way it is pleasing that other managers - and not just Steve - are interested in our players. We are doing something right.
"We don't need to sell to balance the books or need to sell to re-invest. We can make our own decisions."
