Wigan celebrate avoiding relegation on the final day of the season
Wigan chairman Dave Whelan expects manager Roberto Martinez to make a swift decision on his future after an approach by Aston Villa.
Martinez, 37, is favourite to succeed Gerard Houllier, who left Villa this month following heart problems.
Whelan told BBC 5 live: "It's in Roberto's hands and I will support him whatever way he wants to go.
"He will make a decision in the next 24 hours, and my gut feeling is that he will stay at Wigan."
Whelan praised the way in which Villa have conducted themselves after giving his permission for talks, and insisted Martinez is destined to manage at the highest level.
"I would say to Aston Villa fans that your club have been superb and so honest," said the 74-year-old.
"Roberto has done a superb job at Wigan. He's a fine manager and will [eventually] go to one of the top six clubs in Europe.
- As a player, Martinez made 150 league appearances for Wigan between 1995 and 2001
"I've offered him an extension and a better contract as he only has 12 months left on his current one.
"Together, we're a great partnership. My advice to him is that he should stay at least another season, but I've got to be realistic about it."
Meanwhile, Villa chief executive Paul Faulkner released a statement on the club's website on Thursday in which he said the selection process was still ongoing.
It read: "The club is conscious of the keen interest in developments over the appointment of our new manager.
"When the process has reached an appropriate point we can assure our fans that we will be clear and forthright.
"We are focused right now on trying to secure the best candidate who will complement the club's commitment to being true to our heritage, competitiveness and passionate fan base. We will update fans again when the process is more advanced."
With former England boss Steve McClaren, ex-Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez and Mark Hughes, who resigned as Fulham manager last week, all seemingly out of the running, Martinez now seems to be Villa's preferred choice.
The Wigan manager has been targeted by Villa after Houllier left in early June. The 63-year-old Frenchman, who was in charge for only nine months, had missed the final month of the season because of heart problems.
Martinez, 37, joined Wigan from Swansea in 2009 - his first competitive game in charge being a 2-0 away victory over Aston Villa.
He has managed to keep Wigan in the Premier League in his two seasons in charge, with the club surviving in 2010/11 thanks to a four-game unbeaten run at the end of the campaign.
Swansea chairman Huw Jenkins, who brought Martinez to the Welsh club in 2007, believes the Spaniard would be a good appointment for Villa.
Martinez proud of Wigan achievement
"Roberto was a fantastic player and manager for our club and I have got no doubts that whatever club he may move to, he is a great manager and a great choice for anybody," Jenkins told BBC Radio 5 live.
Welshman Hughes resigned after less than a year at Craven Cottage and has subsequently been linked with the vacant positions at Villa and Chelsea.
Benitez has been out of work since he was dismissed by Italian side Inter Milan in December after six months in charge.
McClaren, 50, was sacked by German side Wolfsburg in February and is thought to be keen on a return to managing in England.
BBC Radio 5 live's Pat Murphy added: "I understand that it was the hostility of some Villa supporters against Steve McClaren that turned [Villa owner] Randy Lerner off the prospect of even giving an interview to an experienced manager with a fine club track record, excellent contacts and a commitment to bringing on young players.
"So McClaren's failings with England four years ago are deemed decisive when assessing his pedigree at club level.
"I understand Rafa Benitez wanted £30m minimum to spend on new players, Lerner knocked that one back."
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