Wigan boss offers support to fellow manager

Wigan manager Roberto Martinez has given his full backing to Blackpool counterpart Ian Holloway in the growing row over team selection.

The Seasiders boss made 10 changes for the midweek 3-2 defeat at Aston Villa, after which Holloway said he would quit if the Premier League fined him for fielding a weakened side.

Martinez joined a number of his top-flight colleagues in supporting the right of a manager to pick the team he wants, and said: "I don't think anyone knows the physical and mental state of the players better than the manager. As a manager you have to make decisions to do that and get a competitive team on the pitch."

He added: "I don't understand where the fuss is. The manager selects the team and he is the only one who knows the players perfectly well and his decisions are based on that.

"Anything else is cheap talk and we should allow managers to do their jobs."

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