Intro:

Everton manager Roberto Martinez spoke to the media on Thursday (20th November) ahead of the 'Toffees'' English Premier League meeting with in-form West Ham United.

Script:

SOUNDBITE: (English) Roberto Martinez, Everton manager (on his relationship with Republic of Ireland manager Martin O'Neill following assistant manager Roy Keane's claims that Everton have tried to stop their Irish players from taking part in international duty):

"We've got a good relationship with, obviously, with the manager, Martin O'Neill and I will keep in touch quite frequently and we share information and.... that's something that, at the club we're always very proud whenever players represent their countries and I think the record shows that. Since I've been at the club, 18 players that they've been representing their countries, over 140 caps, is something that we are very, very proud of and every player at our club is desperately.... proud to represent their countries as well. So, a lot has been said, a lot has been nonsense and the reality is that the conversation between the managers of the associations and ourselves as a club, they've always been really good and they will carry on being good."

Q: "So what did you make then, when Roy Keane, the assistant manager, got involved?"

"No, there's nothing for me to comment. It's completely nonsense."

SOUNDBITE: (English) Roberto Martinez, Everton manager (asked if Wigan Athletic chairman Dave Whelan had considered the possibility of a negative reaction after appointing Malky Mackay as the club's new manager):

"I'm sure, I'm sure he has, but obviously I think, if there is an investigation that's, something that until it's concluded, whatever the talk is is unnecessary. We all make mistakes and the opportunity now is for Wigan to, to get back in trying to win football games and Malky Mackay has got a really good record on.... on getting teams out of the Championship in terms of.... of finding success very, very quickly and I wish them the very best of luck."