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HOOPS FACE FIGHT FOR MARTINEZ

Celtic will face competition from Wigan and Real Sociedad if they continue to pursue Swansea manager Roberto Martinez.

Swansea chairman Huw Jenkins has revealed he had rejected a request from Celtic to speak to the Spaniard about the vacant managerial role at Parkhead.

But Jenkins added Sociedad had also enquired about his manager while he expects Wigan to follow suit in the coming days.

Martinez enjoyed a successful playing spell at Wigan, who are expected to have a vacancy of their own after accepting a compensation package from Sunderland that will allow Steve Bruce to move to the Stadium of Light.

However, Celtic may yet be allowed to speak to Martinez as Jenkins admitted he would perform a U-turn if the 35-year-old insists on speaking to the Glasgow club when he returns from holiday.

"I'll probably speak to him (Martinez) between now and Wednesday but later on in the week he'll be back home to run through his thoughts with me," Jenkins said.

"First and foremost, it's about his position here and how we see that, and we'll consider all that first.

"I think you've got to respect that type of club Celtic are and what opportunities exist - perhaps not in the league but certainly in the Champions League - and the size of the club.

"Naturally, I suppose that interest would require anybody to sit and consider their position.

"It's basically up to him how he sees it, I think there's certainly no possibility of us forcing any issue. Roberto has got to consider his future and where his commitment lies."

Martinez led the Welsh club to the League One title in his first full season in charge and took them to eighth place in their debut season in the Coca-Cola Championship.

That record is likely to see him installed as one of the favourites for the Wigan job should Bruce's departure be confirmed.

When asked if he had taken a call from Wigan chairman Dave Whelan, Jenkins told BBC Sport Wales: "I'd probably be surprised if I didn't have one but again we'll have to see what happens over the next few days.

"We'll do everything in our power to keep him (Martinez) but ultimately it always comes down to the individual himself, how he feels and what we wants to do and what he wants to do with the next step of his career."

Jenkins has also spoken to Sociedad about Martinez, who had a brief and largely unsuccessful spell at Motherwell before being made redundant when the club went into administration in April 2002.

"We have had a few brief calls, nothing more than that, which is quite natural with the season we've had and the publicity he's had," Jenkins said.

"He's probably quite high on a number of people's lists which is good in one respect but obviously it can also be bad in some other ways."

Celtic refused to confirm the approach and whether others were in the offing, but it is the most concrete development in their hunt to replace Gordon Strachan, who quit last week.

Owen Coyle looks set to pledge his future to Burnley after apparently rejecting overtures from Celtic, while West Brom continue to insist there has been no approach for former Hoops defender Tony Mowbray, who has two years left on his contract.

Motherwell manager Mark McGhee and Craig Levein also continue to be linked with the post but the Dundee United boss denied any knowledge of interest from Celtic, or indeed from Aberdeen as they seek to replace Jimmy Calderwood.

"I was down in England at the races at the weekend and every Scottish punter I met mentioned either Aberdeen or Celtic," Levein told the Dundee Evening Telegraph.

"Them mentioning it was the first time I'd heard and they are the only people who've spoken to me about it."

Everton manager David Moyes yesterday ruled himself out of the running.

"There may well have been an inquiry from Celtic but that doesn't interest me," Moyes said.

"I am the Everton manager and I am a really loyal person."