Roberto Martinez says Everton board right to hold meeting over his future

Roberto Martinez insists he'll fight for his job as Everton manager and thinks the fans will be rewarded if they're patient with the current squad Roberto Martinez insists he'll fight for his job as Everton manager and thinks the fans will be rewarded if they're patient with the current squad

Roberto Martinez says the Everton board is right to consider his future as manager in the wake of a disappointing season.

The Spaniard has faced increasingly-vocal opposition from some of the club's supporters in recent weeks and Everton host Bournemouth on Saturday without a win in seven games.

The last of those saw their FA Cup dream die at Wembley on Saturday thanks to a late Manchester United winner, and all that remains this season is to fight for a top-half Premier League finish.

That fight is likely to begin against a backdrop of new protests this weekend, while a report in Thursday's Daily Mirror claimed Mark Hughes has been lined up as a potential successor.

Asked about the prospect of a board meeting being called to discuss his future, Martinez said: "I understand it completely. I never felt being Everton manager is a manager to be judged in an average position.

"I encourage huge expectations. As a club, we have to drive for silverware and top four and when you aren't there the scrutiny needs to be there.

Martinez accepts the fans' criticism of their performances but urges them to look at the bigger picture Martinez accepts the fans' criticism of their performances but urges them to look at the bigger picture

"It shouldn't be scrutiny of the last three months but instead the last three seasons. It's a scrutiny of the squad we have put together and scrutiny of how we play against the top teams."

Everton finished fifth in Martinez's first season before slipping to 11th last year, but the manager found renewed encouragement in his side's second-half performance against United and said the backing of the fans had made a difference.

Martinez says Everton's support at Wembley was 'one of the best I've seen'

"The support we had at Wembley was one of the best I've seen at a football ground," he said.

"We fed off that. We played without the handbrake on in the second half.

Anthony Martial scored the winner for Man United in the FA Cup semi-final

"That's what we've been building over three years. To go to Wembley and go eye-to-eye with a team who challenges for silverware.

"The message is we are all hurting together. I understand their passion and they make us what we are as a club. Football without passion makes no sense.

Roberto Martinez says he's the right man to lead Everton forward, despite the Toffees' 2-1 loss to Manchester United in the semi-final of the FA Cup Roberto Martinez says he's the right man to lead Everton forward, despite the Toffees' 2-1 loss to Manchester United in the semi-final of the FA Cup

"But I'd say to those fans only when you get through those difficult experiences and moments do you get a renewed drive to fight."