Marcos Painter arrived back from his holiday in Barbados yesterday to find that he no longer had a manager as Roberto Martinez had taken over at Wigan.
The former
Birmingham City defender has now fully recovered from a cruciate knee injury and is hoping the new man at the helm will rate him as highly as Martinez did.
Painter was an integral part of the
Swansea team that romped to the League One title under the Spaniard, and lit up the Championship last year with a scintillating brand of football until his injury.
Givemefootball’s Ian Clarkson spoke exclusively with Painter just hours after he touched down on an early morning flight from the Caribbean.
Q: What were your thoughts when you found out Roberto Martinez had left Swansea to take over at Wigan?
A: It was a bit of a surprise to be honest. I had been away in Barbados for two weeks and hadn’t looked at the newspaper or television so was really relaxing and getting away from it all.
I found out when a reporter from a local radio station texted me and asked if I wanted to comment on the news regarding the gaffer. I didn’t know he’s gone and to be honest I expected it to be Celtic as before I left there was speculation about that job.
However, I managed to get on the Internet when I was out there and found out he had gone to Wigan. I only got back at ten to six this morning so I am still getting my head round it.
Q: Did he bring you to Swansea?
A: It was Kenny Jackett who signed me but he was sacked not long after I arrived at Swansea. As soon as the gaffer came in he played me from day one and if I was ever injured he always looked to get me back into the team as quickly as possible.
I was confident that he rated me as a player and that really helps you. He is a top bloke and a top manager and I am sure he will do well at Wigan.
Q: Will he be a success at Wigan?
A: Only time will tell if he will be a success at Wigan and it will be a different challenge for him. At Swansea he had achieved almost God-like status amongst supporters because he had lifted the profile of the club so much in his time there and because of the style of football we played.
However, I think he is already a fans’ favourite at Wigan from the time he played there and that will help him but there are always big expectations to succeed at Premier League clubs. But he has all the necessary attributes to succeed at any level.
More from Painter next time as he looks to the future post Martinez and what qualities the Spaniard will take to the Premier League.
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