Here are the odds from skybet [1st thing Saturday] for the Pompey Manager's job. The 11/4 favourite is Sean O'Driscoll, who was sacked by Doncaster last month. Next Permanent Portsmouth Manager Next Permanent Manager 1. Sean O'Driscoll 11/4 2. Dave Jones 7/2 3. Stuart Gray 5/1 4. Guy Whittingham 11/2 5. Alan Curbishley 8/1 6. Kevin Mcdonald 10/1 7. Brian Laws 10/1 8. Billy Davies 10/1 9. Karl Robinson 12/1 10. Steve Coppell 14/1 11. Gordon Strachan 14/1 12. Roy Keane 14/1 13. Derek Mcinnes 14/1 14. Lee Bradbury 16/1 15. Martin O'Neill 16/1 16. Alan McLoughlin 16/1 17. Paul Tisdale 20/1 18. Eoin Jess 20/1 19. Iain Dowie 20/1 20. Stuart Pearce 25/1 21. Lee Clark 25/1 22. Tony Adams 40/1
Stuart Gray is in charge against Barnsley. This is the 4th time he has been a 'caretaker manager' (prev Aston Villa, Wolves and Burnley); a position in which he has been more successful than in his two appointments as a permanent manager (at Southampton and Northampton) Caretaker record: Pld 12 W - 5 (41.7%) D - 4 (33.3%) L - 3 (25%) Permanent Record Pld 154 W - 50 (32.5%) D - 41 (26.6%) L - 63 (40.9%)
He's not on the list so his odds will be longer than 40-1 so it looks like he has two hopes - No Hope and Bob Hope!
I'm off, down to my nearest turf accountant then! You never know. If Gray gets the job, (I've nothing against that) it will show, for sure, the Russians are short on cash and are taking the cheap option.
Dave Jones is now odds on favourite. Still no Uncle though meowth.... Next Permanent Manager 1. Dave Jones 10/11 2. Sean O'Driscoll 4/1 3. Iain Dowie 5/1 4. Steve Coppell 6/1 5. Alan McLoughlin 6/1 6. Alan Curbishley 14/1 7. Brian Laws 14/1 8. Billy Davies 14/1 9. Kevin Mcdonald 16/1 10. Stuart Gray 16/1 11. Lee Clark 18/1 12. Karl Robinson 20/1 13. Gordon Strachan 20/1 14. Aidy Boothroyd 20/1 15. Derek Mcinnes 20/1 16. Guy Whittingham 25/1 17. Roy Keane 25/1 18. Lee Bradbury 33/1 19. Martin O'Neill 33/1 20. Paul Tisdale 33/1 21. Eoin Jess 33/1 22. Stuart Pearce 40/1 23. Tony Adams 66/1
no one on that list stands out to me, other than Martin O'Neil who we have no chance in getting. I would take Dave Jones, O'Driscoll or Billy Davies. All know the championship well, and have done a good job on tight budgets. Why are they still giving odds for Whittingham when he has ruled himself out of the running??
Today Sean O'Driscoll is back to odds on favourite at 10/11 with Dave Jones now 5/2, Ian Dowie at 3/1 and Steve Coppell at 7/2
The word on the street is that W.H Smith in Portsmouth hasn't reported an increase in sales of brown envelopes recently, so Harry's out of the running