Home / Football / Steve McClaren And Roberto Martinez Also Well Fancied For Job At Villa Park

Mark Hughes hot favourite in the betting to be next Aston Villa manager

Aston Villa have begun the process of finding a new manager following the departure of Gerard Houllier and it is Mark Hughes who is favourite to be next Villa manager. The Fulham manager is currently 5/6 favourite with Paddy Power to take the post at Villa Park, although he is joined by several strong contenders at the head of the betting - including Steve McClaren, Roberto Martinez and Rafa Benitez.

Houllier's departure comes after just nine months in charge following concerns over his health. It had been a turbulent spell at Villa Park for the Frenchman as he faced demands for him to be sacked from Villa fans as the side flirted with relegation for much of the season.

The new manager will have to quickly appease those Villa fans who have become disillusioned since Martin O'Neill's shock resignation last August and his first job will be to convince the likes of Ashley Young and Stewart Downing to stay at the club.

Mark Hughes is at the head of the betting and he would have no doubt have been considered for the role last August had he not taken the Fulham job just a matter of weeks before. He has impressed during his spell at Craven Cottage and has the prospect of Europa League football to look forward to. However, he is likely to be working on a limited budget at Fulham, while the Villa board have promised to strengthen the squad during the summer with more big money signings like the £25 million January signing Darren Bent.

Steve McClaren is also well fancied for the role at 7/2 in the betting with PaddyPower after he turned down the West Ham job in preference for a Premier League job. He rebuilt his reputation at FC Twente after a turbulent spell as England manager, although an unsuccessful spell at Wolfsburg in Germany will leave many Villa fans underwhelmed if he was appointed.

There are plenty of candidates with top flight experience as Wigan's Roberto Martinez is 6/1 to take over, while Everton's David Moyes is a 15/2 punt. However, Villa have had to agree a severance package with Houllier and it would be questionable as to whether they would want to pay out compensation to a club for a new boss.

That leads us to those out of work managers and former Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez would seem to fit that bill, although the 6/1 punt could be too similar to Houllier for some fans liking. Meanwhile, recently sacked Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti is available at 9/1 in the betting with PaddyPower.com as he looks for a new job, and former Tottenham manager Martin Jol, at 16/1, is a name that would fit the bill perfectly.

Elsewhere, American Bob Bradley is priced 28/1 and he was heavily linked with the vacant position at Villa Park last year thanks to his ties with fellow countryman and Villa chairman Randy Lerner. While Martin O'Neill is 50/1 to make a shock return to the Villa hot seat just 10 months after resigning over a lack of funds.

Next Aston Villa Manager Betting

5/6 Mark Hughes
7/2 Steve McClaren
6/1 Roberto Martinez
6/1 Rafael Benitez
15/2 David Moyes
9/1 Carlo Ancelotti
16/1 Martin Jol
18/1 Gary McAllister
20/1 Kevin McDonald
28/1 Bob Bradley
40/1 BAR

Odds supplied by PaddyPower.com, bookmakers, who provide a variety of football odds and specials betting markets.

Posted: Thursday, 2nd June 2011
Author: Chris James
Tags: aston villa, mark hughes, steve mcclaren, paddypower,

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