SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
After Sam Allardyce somehow contrived to lose his dream job with England after being ‘stung’ by undercover reporters from the Daily Telegraph, SBC News takes a look at the candidates to replace the national side’s shortest-serving full time manager. The stated odds have been taken from Oddschecker at the time of writing.
Gareth Southgate – 13/8 with BetVictor
Shortly after ‘Big Sam’ took over, Southgate came out and said he did not consider himself ready to take the top job.
Less than a month on, the former Middlesbrough boss has been drafted in for the next four games against Malta, Slovenia, Scotland and Spain. With considerable experience in the national set-up, Southgate is a safe pair of hands, but surely he hasn’t readied himself that quickly?
Steve Bruce – 15/4 on 10bet
The former Hull, Sunderland, Wigan, Birmingham, Crystal Palace, Huddersfield and Sheffield United manager was among the front-runners for the job two months ago, and was interviewed by the Football Association.
On the same day as Allardyce was appointed, he resigned from his post with Hull amid claims of frustration over the lack of transfer activity at the club. He may be well-travelled and experienced, but his only major managerial successes have been in the Championship play-offs.
Alan Pardew – 12/1 on BetVictor
Pardew is a similarly no-nonsense character to Allardyce, and has overseen something of a revival at Crystal Palace in recent weeks, after a poor end to last season and a slow start to this one.
However, if the FA are looking to avoid controversy, they will probably be steering clear of the Wimbledon born manager. Pardew has been sacked multiple times, initiated high profile fall outs with the likes of Arsene Wenger and Manuel Pellegrini, and been handed a stadium ban for head-butting Hull’s David Meyler.
Eddie Howe – 12/1 on bet365
Let’s just end this one right here – Eddie Howe has a bright future in the game, and has something very special going at AFC Bournemouth. He is far too young to take on a role which has become a ‘poisoned chalice’, and should retain faith that this job will come up again in the future.
After all, whoever does take it will probably do something stupid, or fail spectacularly at the next World Cup, at which point Howe could have another two years’ Premier League experience behind him.
The Outsider: Arsene Wenger – 19/1 on 10bet
With his contract at the Emirates coming to an end this summer, there is a growing belief that Arsene Wenger will finally be walking away from Arsenal after more than 20 years in charge. The Frenchman has become renowned for his playing style, and has a much higher pedigree than the other candidates, with a CV that includes three Premier League titles and six FA Cup wins.
With Southgate confirmed for the next four matches, there is only one further match (Lithuania at home) that falls between now and the end of Wenger’s contract. Do we really need a full time manager in place for that one?
