Premier League Sack Race

Bookmakers are split as to who should head the betting in the ’Next Premier League Manager to Leave Post’ market. We assess the runner and riders in the race that nobody wants to win.

Stan James make Southampton boss Nigel Adkins their 3/1 favourite, while BetVictor have him as big as 16/1, a huge difference in opinion. Stan James are probably thinking that Southampton are a club with big ambitions and money to burn, if Adkins is found to be out of his depth then the owners might not hang around in keeping him on board. BetVictor meanwhile are probably thinking that Adkins has lead Southampton from League One to the Premier League in two seasons and will be given time to get things right. The truth is probably somewhere in the middle, the board will give Adkins until at least January and it will be a shock if no manager has left his post by then.

Next up in the market is new West Brom boss Steve Clarke who is 9/1 (Bodog and william hill). The Scot is in his first solo spell in charge of a club and may struggle to match the achievements of Roy Hodgson. The fixture list has handed West Brom some difficult opening games and the Baggies won just three of their last 11 league games last season.

Next in line is Sam Allardyce at 10/1 (Bodog) who has struggled to get West Ham fans on side during his spell in charge. West Ham, unlike say Southampton or Reading, will not just be happy to be back in the Premier League and Allardyce and his men must hit the ground running. With West Ham legend Harry Redknapp out of work Big Sam will feel the pressure from day one.

Roberto Di Matteo is 11/1 (Stan James/william hill) and any Chelsea boss is always at risk under owner Roman Abramovich, but the side looked more together over the last few months of the season and a kind start of fixtures will help the Italian to be eased in. New Norwich boss Chris Hughton is 14/1 (Bodog) and although replacing Paul Lambert is a big ask the board are likely to give Hughton plenty of time to settle. Martin Jol is also 14/1, the Dutchman had a solid time at Fulham last season, but Fulham fans might expect the club to push on a little more this season.

Brendan Rodgers is 16/1 (general) at Liverpool and Rodgers will hope he does not get hounded of the club the way Roy Hodgson was. Laudrup and Martinez are both 16/1 (general) but both prices on appeal if you think that they walk as both seem unlikely to be pushed, Laudrup has a habit of walking if things are not going to plan.

Mark Hughes at 20/1 (Stan James) could be of interest, Hughes arrived with a fanfare, but barely kept QPR up last season. Owner Tony Fernandez has invested too much in this project to stand by if QPR look like they are going to struggle again this season. Another lively option is Tony Pulis at 40/1 (Bodog). The Stoke manager has done a remarkable job to establish Stoke as a Premier League club, but things might just be starting to slide. Last season Stoke finished 14th, just nine points from safety, and won just one of their last 12 games. The style of Football has never been appealing and if the results disappear Pulis will be under huge pressure.

The Sack Race, as always, promises to be another interesting market in the wild and crazy world of the Premier League.

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06/07/2012     © Frixo 2024