Portsmouth are expected to choose Curbishley or Grant

There are two clear leaders in the races to succeed Tony Adams

(Photo Credit: Chris Ison, PA)

Alan Curbishley and Avram Grant got off on the wrong foot last season when the former West Ham boss said that Manchester United deserved the title more than Chelsea. Now they will lock horns again after being installed as the clear frontrunners to succeed Tony Adams at Portsmouth:

Avram Grant (4/7 with Paddy Power)
Bizarrely, the best job offer a manager who came within a John Terry slip-up of winning the Champions League last season is now offered is at a team locked in a relegation battle after selling two of their star players. However, Grant has made it clear he has unfinished business in England and he has previous with Portsmouth after spending a season there as a technical director before moving to Chelsea.

Alan Curbishley (6/1 with Sky Bet)
In many ways Curbishley seems like the perfect fit at Portsmouth, considering the way he saved West Ham from relegation and solidified their position in the Premier League. But Curbs quit there because George McCartney was sold without his agreement so the sale of Jermain Defoe might not have sat too well with him. Portsmouth might also feel awkward appointing Curbishley now after threatening legal action last week against a newspaper who claimed he was being sounded out about the job while Adams was still in charge.

Posted: February 9th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

Roy Keane quits Sunderland

Will Curbishley be reunited with McCartney and Ferdinand?

Alan Curbishley quit West Ham earlier this season after Anton Ferdinand and George McCartney were sold to Sunderland over his head. Paddy Power now make him 6/1 to be reunited with them at the Stadium of Light after Roy Keane left the club.

Former Newcastle boss Sam Allardyce is 4/1 favourite closely followed by Gordon Strachan at 5/1 but chickendinner considers Curbishley the man to beat at this early stage in proceedings.

Despite the news only just breaking, Paddy Power have already inserted some comedy options into the market with Kevin Keegan at 40/1 and Keane’s autobiography ghostwriter turned major critic Eamon Dunphy 200/1. Harry “this is my last job” Redknapp is a 50/1 outsider.

Posted: December 4th, 2008 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment