Steve Bruce’s odds slashed into favouritism to become next Ireland manager

LEE CARSELY, Neil Lennon and Chris Hughton have all been tipped to become the next Ireland manager.

But it’s ex-Newcastle and Aston Villa boss Steve Bruce who has come from nowhere in the betting, to now LEAD the market as favourite with Paddy Power.

He started the week at 22/1 to replace Stephen Kenny, who remains the manager as things stand despite mounting pressure.

Those odds were halved on Tuesday following a flurry of bets that followed Ireland’s defeat to Netherlands on Sunday night.

And those bets have continued to fly in, with Bruce now as short as 2/1 with Paddy Power to take the reins.

Ireland sit fourth in qualifying and just three points ahead of Gibraltar at the foot of the group and a whole nine points behind Greece in third.

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Kenny is set to remain in charge for the remainder of the the qualifying campaign though it appears clear his time in charge won’t go beyond that, following their failure to qualify.

Bruce – who has also managed the likes of Sunderland, Birmingham and Sheffield Wednesday – was most recently in charge of West Brom, where he was sacked after just eight months in charge.

He hinted at an immediate return to management following his sacking in October last year but has remained without a club since then and retirement rumours swirled.

But a job in international management could suit the 62-year-old and Ireland appears to be a likely destination.

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The FA are understood to be ready to rebuff approaches for under-21 Carsely, who is among the favourites to replace Gareth Southgate when he departs.

He’ remains second favourite at 9/2, with Lennon and Hughton on 9/1 alongside Anthony Barry and Kieran McKenna.

Roy Keane (10/1) and Sam Allardyce (11/1) are also in contention.

Rachael Kane of Paddy Power, said “Like a Fergie time winner, the swell in support for Bruce came out of nowhere overnight and has shown no signs of slowing despite him now being backed into favourite.  

“With the FAI committing to Kenny until November at the earliest, we assumed things would have quietened down, but instead it seems to have triggered something and our customers willing to back Steve Bruce at any price.” 

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