Odds slashed on next Wales manager as shock candidate now clear favourite – Wales Online
A new favourite has emerged for the vacant Wales manager job
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Oxford United manager Des Buckingham has been installed as the new favourite for the Wales job.
Buckingham guided The U's to League One promotion last season and is due to lead the club into the Championship next term.
But bookmakers Oddschecker have seen significant movement on Monday morning, with Buckingham's odds cut from 5/1 to odds-on favourite at 1/1 to be appointed Wales' next manager
The Oxford Mail report 39-year-old Buckingham, who only took the reins at the Kassam Stadium in November last year after a coaching career spent in New Zealand, Australia and India, is currently in Spain with his team preparing for the upcoming campaign.
According to the market experts, this is one to keep a very close eye on.
READ MORE:Next Wales manager as Burnley boss Scott Parker issues Craig Bellamy update
READ MORE: Inside Wales' new manager hunt: What happened before and those in running this time around
Oddschecker’s Leon Blackman said: “The Wales next manager market sprung into life on Monday as Des Buckingham became the new odds-on favourite to replace Rob Page.
"Having been as big as 5/1 on Monday morning, a surge of bets backing Buckingham has seen his odds shorten to the odds-on favourite at 1/1. A staggering 93 per cent of bets on Monday have backed Buckingham for the role, compared to a mere three per cent of the bet share in the month prior. This market will be one to watch over the coming days to see if Buckingham’s price continues to shorten.”
Wales disposed of Rob Page's services last month after failing to qualify for the European Championships and two damaging friendly results – a 0-0 draw with Gibraltar and a 4-0 hammering at the hands of Slovakia.
Early favourites to replace Page in the dugout included Osian Roberts and Craig Bellamy; the former quickly ruled himself out of the running, committing himself to the project at now Serie A side Como, while Bellamy looks to be remaining on the Burnley coaching staff, with new boss Scott Parker confirming he would be working with the former Wales striker at Turf Moor.
Others in the frame include former Arsenal and star Thierry Henry, who is currently France Under-21s boss and is busy preparing to lead the under-23s at the Paris Olympics next month.
Wales manager odds in full
Des Buckingham – 1/1
Craig Bellamy – 3/1
Thierry Henry – 10/1
Eric Ramsay – 14/1
Mark Sampson – 16/1
