Hammers` McDonald Still Odds-On For Carlisle

Neil McDonald, Sam Allardyce`s assistant at West Ham United, has returned to odds-on favouritism to replace sacked Graham Kavanagh at Carlisle United despite local media suggesting that the move would be `unlikely`. Seemingly, the club`s press revelation that they are extending their own self-imposed deadline on finding a new manager has been taken as a hint by punters that the Cumbrians are holding out for their former manager.

Unfortunately for Carlisle fans, however, it may not be that simple. Speaking to the club`s website regarding the deadline, managing director of United John Nixon attributed its extension to the need to comb through `an extra influx` of CVs and applications.

`We want to be as thorough as we possibly can be as we consider every aspect of what is an extremely important decision.

`We now have 75 applications with some extremely strong candidates, and I think it`s only fair for all concerned that we look at each and every one of them in as much detail as possible.`

Nixon then went on to applaud the quality of the overall applications.

In spite of this effort to cool the McDonald rumours, the West Ham assistant can now be back at best price 2/5 (Betvictor) to snatch the much contended role from his competitors.

McDonald`s last reign in the Brunton Park home dugout saw the former right back sacked a single game into the 2007/08 season, a 1-1 draw away at Walsall. Prior to his unceremonious dumping, the Tyneside man had led the side to an 8th place finish in League 1, the highest placing achieved in the club`s long history.

It was also under McDonald that Carlisle broke their club transfer fee record, signing Blackburn Rover`s Joe Garner for £140,000.

Following their 22nd place finish and resulting relegation from League 1 last season, the boys in blue have had a torrid time trying to settle into their new surroundings.

Six games in, Carlisle once again sit in 22nd place, a solitary point above the League 2 relegation zone. Kavanagh managed to accumulate two points in four games before the team squandered a two goal lead under caretaker managers Paul Thirwell and Tony Caig to draw 4-4 against AFC Wimbledon last time out. Hope can be salvaged from that performance however, as Gary Dicker saw red for a deliberate handball, the Blues` fans perhaps more confident of holding on to such a lead with all eleven men on the field.

Thirwell and Caig are expected to take charge of the team against Bury tomorrow (Saturday 13th September) and again for their midweek clash against Shrewsbury Town (Tuesday 16th September). With both Bury and Shrewsbury occupying places in the play-offs, fans are expecting things to get a whole lot worse before they get better.

Despite their home advantage, Carlisle are 7/5 (bet365) to overturn their North West opposition on Saturday with the same bookmakers offering 9/4 on a draw and 23/10 on an away win.

Losing his right-hand man would be another blow for Hammers` manager Sam Allardyce who appears to be under unrelenting pressure after a woeful 3-1 home defeat to Southampton last week.

Asked whether or not his assistant will be leaving Upton Park, Allardyce today said:

`No, I`m happy to say.

`With the number of changes we`ve made to the squad, it`s good to keep as many things consistent as possible.`

In this case, Former Tranmere man Ronnie Moore is the current second-favourite with Rwanda`s Stephen Constantine also thought to have applied for the position.

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12/09/2014     © Frixo 2026