ROBERTO MARTINEZ hopes to have finalised his backroom staff at Everton within the next two weeks – and plans to speak with Phil Neville about a role.

The former Wigan Athletic boss is expected to bring a number of his old staff from the DW Stadium with him to Goodison Park.

Assistant manager Graeme Jones, first-team coach Graham Barrow and chief scout Kevin Reeves are amongst those in the frame to follow the Spaniard to Everton.

But Martinez has revealed that he hopes to speak to former Blues’ captain Neville about the possibility of a coaching role in the new coaching set-up.

Neville, 36, left the club last month after eight seasons wearing Royal Blue and last week he announced his decision to retire from playing.

An England under-21s coach, Neville has made no secret of his desire to begin life in the dugout and he was interviewed for the vacant manager’s position at Everton following David Moyes’ departure for Manchester United.

Ultimately, the club chose 39-year-old Martinez but the former Swansea City manager is keen to see the ambitious Neville as part of his staff. Martinez had hoped Under-21s coach David Weir would have remained at Everton but this week he accepted the job as new manager of League One side Sheffield United.

“There are going to be changes and when a manager leaves he seems to take certain members of his staff,” said Martinez. “It is going to be important that we set the structure quickly and that carries on a very efficient support to the players.

“Phil Neville is an icon at Everton and he could bring a lot in his time as a coach and that is something I really want to speak with him about and see how he feels about his future.

“I spoke with David Weir and he is a phenomenal gentleman and the timing has been a real shame.

“The opportunity of managing is something he had to take. It is a real shame he hasn’t been able to be part of the project because he would have been someone who fitted in really, really well to our structure and could bring those values we talked about. Over the next two weeks we are going to get some clarity in how we are going to settle the staff.”

It remains unclear if Moyes will return to Everton for some of the coaches who worked under him during his 11-year reign at the club.

Neville has continually been linked with a role in the Scot’s regime at Old Trafford.