BOB – A JOB?

Bob Bradley has confirmed he would be keen to coach in Europe after he was installed as the favourite to become Aston Villa‘s new manager. Martin O’Neil stepped down as Villa boss on Monday amid reports the club’s transfer policy was behind the Ulsterman’s decision.

BOB BRADLEY is 11/4 favourite to become the next Aston Villa manager with William Hill who also offer 6/1 Bilic; Curbishley; Erikkson; 7/1 Jol; Southgate; 8/1 McLaren.

‘Bradley has no club experience in the English game but did well with USA, while Bilic and Erikkson seem to crop up on every list of potential managers for every high profile job which comes along – which could be more a tribute to their agents and pr people than their managerial abilities.’ said Hill’s spokesman Graham Sharpe, ‘It seems that the O’Neill walk-out genuinely took the club by surprise so they are unlikely to be able to replace him immediately so this market is likely to change dramatically over the next few days’.

IS IT A GIVEN THAT SHAY WILL START FOR CITY?

WITH neither Shay Given nor Joe Hart happy to be regarded as the number two keeper at Man City, William Hill make Given 1/2 favourite to start in their opening match of the seaon, with Hart 6/4 to get the nod. Hills offer 8/11 that BOTH Given and Hart will still be City players at the close of the January transfer window, EVENS that one or both will have left by then.

Martin O’Neill has resigned as Aston Villa manager with immediate effect.

Kevin MacDonald, reserve team manager, has assumed the role of caretaker manager and will prepare the team for the opening Premier League game of the season against West Ham on Saturday at Villa Park.

O'Neil quits Villa

Martin O’Neill said: “I have enjoyed my time at Aston Villa immensely. It’s obviously a wrench to be leaving such a magnificent club. I would like to pay tribute to the Villa players, my coaching staff and the Villa supporters for all the support and encouragement they have given both the club and me personally during my time as manager. I wish them all the best for the future. I will obviously be assisting the club in the immediate short-term with regard to the handover of my duties.”

Moments before the news we got this from William Hill;

WILLIAM HILL were forced to slash their odds about Martin O’Neill being the first Premier League manager of the season to leave his job from 8/1 to 8/11 after a flurry of bets on the Villa boss.

‘We have taken a string of three figure bets on the Villa boss to be the first Premier League boss to go this season – the majority of them from clients based in the Leicester area- and have now suspended the market pending any possible announcment from the club. However, we did see a very similar gamble on O’Neill to go towards the end of last season – and nothing came of it then’ said Hill’s spokesman Graham Sharpe.

Stat for you; Martin O’Neill’s win % with Aston Villa in the Premier League, 1% lower than John Gregory’s.

Latest William Hill odds for new Aston Villa Boss……

Martin Jol 2/1
Alan Curbishley 6/1
Slaven Bilic 6/1
Jurgen Klinnsmann 6/1
Steve McLaren 8/1
Tony Mowbray 14/1
Kevin McDonald 14/1
Glen Hoddle 16/1
Sam Allardyce 16/1
Lee Clark 16/1
Bob Bradley 16/1
Billy Davies 16/1
Paul Lambert 20/1
Ian Holloway 20/1
Roberto Martinez 20/1
Alan Pardew 25/1
Roy Keane 25/1
Steve Bruce 25/1
Terry Venables 25/1
Bruce Arena 25/1
Paul Jewell 33/1

Hills….MoN Next Club
Man City 10/3
Man Utd 6/1
England 6/1
Liverpool 7/1
Tottenham 7/1
Bundesliga Club 8/1
Celtic 8/1
Other International Team 8/1
Arsenal 9/1
Eredivisie Club 10/1
Chelsea 11/1
La Liga Club 12/1
Serie A Club 14/1