Allardyce 1-7 on Betfair to be next Newcastle manager

Betfair opened their book on who would be the next Newcastle manager today and Sam Allardyce is the red-hot 1-7 favourite.Allardyce was available at 1-2 when the Betfair market first opened and was immediately backed into a market low of 1-7.All the talk is that 'Big Sam' taking over at St James' Park is a done deal, following Glenn Roeder's resignation. However, some layers are prepared to take him on, and punters have been backing other candidates, too. One punter was so eager to side with Sven-Goran Eriksson getting the Newcastle job that he had £20 on the Swede at the ludicrously low odds of 6-4; if he had waited, he could have availed himself of the current odds of 20-1!There have also been some nibbles for Steve Bruce. He has been supported at a low of 5-1, but is currently the 10-1 second favourite.Betfair spokesman Tony Calvin said: "Everyone seems to think that Allardyce is shoo-in for the job, and the Betfair betting underlines that widely-held belief. But the fact that punters are willing to field against him, and other candidates are being backed, suggests it may be not a done deal. Not yet anyway." To be the next Newcastle manager - Betfair bet: 1-7 Allardyce, 14-1 Bruce, 20-1 Eriksson, Hiddink, 25-1 Mark Hughes, Houllier, Lippi, 33-1 Bryan Robson, Terry Venables, Scolari, 50-1+ others