Roberto Martinez in talks with Everton

Roberto Martinez is set to become the new manager of Everton. Picture: Getty

At a meeting this afternoon Martinez told Whelan he was ending his four-year association with the Latics after they dropped out of the Premier League despite winning the FA Cup.

Whelan will not stand in the way of his manager, who is on a one-year rolling contract, and will demand compensation from whichever club he joins.

Everton, looking to replace David Moyes who has gone to Manchester United, appear to be in pole position after requesting permission to speak to Martinez over the weekend.

“Roberto wants to move on,” Whelan told Press Association Sport.

“We will let him go but he’s on a 12-month rolling contract so if he moves someone will have to buy him out of his final year.

“Everton rang me and I said they have permission to talk to him.”

Everton have not commented on the development but Martinez is the favourite for the vacancy at Goodison Park.

Martinez, 39, who spent six years as a player with Latics, has been a popular manager in his four years at the helm.

He has had to contend with relegation battles in each season but has regularly earned plaudits for his positive style of play.

The former Swansea manager has been heavily linked with Aston Villa and Liverpool in each of the past two summers.

Wigan survived relegation from the top flight on the last day of the season in 2011 and last year won seven of their last nine games to produce a remarkable escape.

That was a feat that proved beyond them this term but they did claim handsome consolation with their stunning FA Cup final victory over Manchester City.

Whelan had previously said he would not stand in Martinez’s way should he wish to leave.

The pair have had a strong relationship dating back to Martinez’s playing days, the Spaniard having first joined the club in 1995.

Earlier in the day defender Gary Caldwell had expressed his hope Martinez would not leave the club.

The Scot, 31, told Sky Sports News: “I think every player hopes the manager stays.

“I don’t think it’s just Dave, I think every player has a good relationship with the manager.

“He is someone who has come to the club and stamped his authority on how he wants to play.

“Every player enjoys that and I think we have had great success with that.”