Portsmouth flop is expected to take the Southampton job

Tony Adams is Sky Bet’s 8/11 favourite to be named Saints’ boss

Photo Credit: Chris Ison/PA Wire

After months of bad news, things seemed to be looking up for Southampton last week: the club were saved from going instinct and star player Kelvin Davis spurned West Ham’s advances to stay at St Mary’s.

However, any Saints fans who were getting their hopes up about a brighter future will have been disappointed to hear that after much talk of Gordon Strachan - the man who took them to the 2003 FA Cup Final - returning, Tony Adams is Sky Bet’s 8/11 favourite for the job.

Adams spent three-and-a-half months in charge of Portsmouth last season before being sacked and the last man to take charge of Southampton shortly after leaving Pompey - Harry Redknapp - got them relegated and deserted

Posted: July 13th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | 1 Comment

Gianluca Vialli emerges as the 3/1 second favourite for the Newcastle job

Chelsea legend backed to take over at St James’ Park

An e-mail from Sky Bet dropped into the chickendinner inbox this morning revealing that Gianluca Vialli has emerged from nowhere to become the 3/1 second favourite to be appointed Newcastle’s new manager.

The former Chelsea boss hasn’t coached for seven years since an unsuccessful stint at Watford but long absences didn’t stop the Magpies from appointing Kevin Keegan and Joe Kinnear.

Reports in this morning’s papers suggested the Italian was being earmarked by potential owners to work as director of football in a “dream team” with director-of-football despiser Alan Shearer - who is still the 4/11 favourite.

However, perhaps sensing that Shearer wouldn’t be too happy about having someone operating above him, punters have backed Vialli for the main job.

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

Portsmouth and Newcastle should share Sunday’s spoils

Portsmouth/Newcastle, 1.30pm, Sky Spts 1, Best Odds, Free Bets

At the start of the season nobody could have imagined that Tony Adams and Joe Kinnear would be colliding as Premier League bosses but that’s exactly what will happen at lunchtime on Sunday. Presumably that the interesting managerial clash is what has persuaded Sky to televise this game, considering it has finished goalless in two of the last three seasons. Here are five reasons why the draw, available at 12/5 with 888sport, Boylesports and Paddy Power, looks a good bet:

1. The two sides have met five times at Fratton Park in the Premier League and on four of those occasions the match has finished level - twice 0-0 and twice 1-1.

2. Bringing into the equation Premier League games against Southampton, six of Newcastle’s last eight visits to the South Coast have ended with the points shared.

Posted: December 13th, 2008 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment