Moyes backed to be next United boss

Bookmakers have unanimously installed David Moyes the odds-on favourite to replace Sir Alex Ferguson as Manchester United manager.United confirmed on Wednesday that Ferguson is to stand down at the end of the season, ending his trophy-laden 26-and-a-half-year reign at Old Trafford. Bets on Everton boss Moyes surged in the wake of Wednesday's confirmation, the Scot coming in to 1/5 favourite with Coral from 7/4.Jose Mourinho had been neck-and-neck in the betting, but the rush on Moyes has seen the pendulum swing, the Real Madrid boss now at 4/1 with a number of bookies, including Bet365, Skybet and Victor Chandler."Nine out of every 10 bets we are taking are being placed on Moyes but we can't be sure if this is a public reaction to the wall-to-wall media coverage which has put Moyes as a clear front runner or more informed money based on insider knowledge," said Simon Clare of Coral."These next manager markets can take on a rollercoaster-style life of their own, but if money talks than David Moyes is about to be given the biggest job in football."Ladbrokes earlier installed Mourinho as their favourite at a price of 5/4, but they later joined their rivals in moving the Portuguese out to 4/1 as interest in Moyes increased.Borussia Dortmund boss Jurgen Klopp is regarded as the third favourite for most bookmakers, with Betfred offering odds of 12/1.Former United players Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (20/1) and Laurent Blanc (33/1) are also attracting some outside interest.Coral playfully offer referee Howard Webb at odds of 1000/1 after he attracted Ferguson's ire in last weekend's defeat to Chelsea, while Liverpool legends Robbie Fowler (500/1, Bet Victor) and Kenny Dalglish (250/1, Sportingbet) are also available to those eager to throw their money away.

Source: PA