Dave Whelan has confirmed that Wigan have given Swansea permission to speak to Graeme Jones over the prospective managerial vacancy.

Wigan grant Martinez's No.2 permission

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Dave Whelan has confirmed that Wigan have given Swansea permission to speak to Graeme Jones over the prospective managerial vacancy at the Liberty Stadium. The Swans have agreed a compensation package with Liverpool for Brendan Rodgers to go to Anfield with three members of his backroom team. The Reds are set to confirm Rodgers as their new boss at a press conference on Friday morning and Swansea have said they hope to appoint a successor as quickly as possible. Jones is believed to be very much at the forefront of their thinking and Wigan chairman Whelan is happy to let him hold talks with Swansea. "I spoke to Roberto and we gave permission virtually immediately," Whelan told. "Roberto, like me, does not believe in holding people back."Graeme is a good lad and if he does go we will miss him immensely. They have been a great partnership for quite a while." Asked if he thought Jones would accept the job if it was offered to him by Swansea, Whelan replied: "He is ambitious. He is football through and through and is up for the challenge." Jones was approached by the Welsh club to take over from Paulo Sousa prior to their appointment of Rodgers in 2010. The 42-year-old had previously worked at Swansea as Roberto Martinez's assistant before joining the Spaniard at the DW Stadium in 2009. Brighton boss Gus Poyet, Blackpool's Ian Holloway, Chris Hughton of Birmingham and former Denmark international Michael Laudrup have all been linked with the job at the Liberty Stadium, but it is Jones who has emerged as the favourite with bookmakers. Former striker Jones was a popular figure during his previous spell in south Wales, and would fit the club's desire to appoint someone willing to continue the attractive passing style that has served Swansea well, having helped Martinez implement that approach.