Wigan manager Roberto Martinez feels he owed it to the club and chairman Dave Whelan to reject overtures from Aston Villa.

Wigan Athletic have given Aston Villa permission to speak to Roberto Martinez about their vacant manager's position, though loyalties to his present club were weighing heavily on the Spaniard's mind last night, after a day in which Steve McClaren's hopes of the position were dashed and Rafael Benitez was told that Villa could not match his spending ambitions.

Aston Villa are finalising their shortlist of candidates to replace Gerard Houllier - with former England boss Steve McClaren among their targets, Press Association Sport understands.

Aston Villa will not be rushed into making a decision over who will replace Gerard Houllier as manager.

Mark Hughes is not expected to be appointed the new Aston Villa manager despite having exercised the break clause in his two-year Fulham contract last night to make a surprise departure from the club.

While talks continued yesterday over a resolution to end Gérard Houllier's short reign as Aston Villa manager, both Ashley Young and Stewart Downing signalled that they will be leaving the club this summer.

Aston Villa boss Gerard Houllier's future will be decided in the next 24 hours, Press Association Sport understands.

Steve McClaren has warned Manchester City that, despite scoring his first Premier League goal on Monday night, it will take time for Edin Dzeko to find his feet in England.

Two-time Copa America winner Diego of Brazil and Wolfsburg recently appeared on The South American Football Show in association with The Independent. Diego lifted the lid on his relationship with ex-Wolfsburg gaffer Steve McClaren, reacted to interest from Liverpool and gave his views on the upcoming Copa America...

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Steve McClaren, the manager who sanctioned Edin Dzeko's £27m sale to Manchester City, believes the striker may not reach his peak until next season, a conclusion that Dzeko's current manager Roberto Mancini badly needs to see the Bosnian disprove in the fight for a top-four Premier League place.

Former England manager Steve McClaren is looking forward to returning to football management after being sacked by Wolfsburg on Monday.

The former England manager Steve McClaren parted company with Wolfsburg yesterday following a string of poor results. The German club's 1-0 defeat by Hannover on Saturday was their second in a row and continued a miserable sequence of one win in 11 in the Bundesliga. In 21 games at the helm, McClaren managed just five wins.

Steve McClaren has today parted company with German side Wolfsburg following a string of poor results.