NEXT CHELSEA MANAGER BETTING OVER 3 MILLION WAGERED AT BETFAIR

With Guus Hiddink's departure now imminent, Carlo Ancelotti has emerged as the concrete favourite to be named as Chelsea's next manager for the 2009/10 season. With the Betfair market rapidly closing on 4 Million Pounds wagered, Ancelotti carries a price of 1.24 compared to the next best-placed contender Frank Rijkaard who sits at a whopping 15.5. Guus Hiddink himself is available at 26.0, which I think reflects just how likely his departure really is. I think he will definitely leave if they win the FA Cup, knowing that he at least delivered some silverware, but there's part of me that thinks if he comes up empty-handed then his pride might take over and he will stay on for another season. He came in a bit too late this year and the damage done by Luis Felipe Scolari just couldn't be undone in time. Other contenders include Roberto Manciini at 44.0, Sven Goran Eriksson at 50.0 (could you imagine?) and Marco Van Basten at 80.0. Avram Grant is listed at 150 to make a dramatic return to Chelsea while Michael Laudrup is available at 160.0. Slaven Bilic looks set to take on a new gig somewhere (many are speculating Celtic) and you can back him to take over at Chelsea at 150.0. Personally, I think the Ancelotti selection is just too strong of a favourite. 1.24 may not mean much, so there isn't a huge amount of value there right now. Personally, I don't think that Guus Hiddink is a bad bet to stay on. 26.0 is a fair piece of coin and a cheeky punt on him may turn out to be one of the best bets of the next month or so.