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Premiership

Hughes favourite for Man City and Chelsea jobs

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Royle thumbs up to Sparky as markets say Hughes can take pick of managerial posts

Joe Royle reckons Manchester City fans would welcome former United legened Mark Hughes as their new manager.

The Blackburn boss has catapulted to [1.63] favourite and ex-City boss Royle said: "Manchester City fans would love to have one of United's ex-heroes as their leader. It is still remembered that the great Matt Busby started off at Manchester City. The swap would be fantasic if it worked out."

Royle hopes Hughes might bring some much needed stabillity to the club.
He said: "City do seem almost to have a death wish at times. As soon as things are going ok somebody reaches for a gun and shoots a foot."

He clearly believes supporters deserve more, adding: "Manchester City is a fantastic club with a brilliant army of fans."

Blackburn bosses reluctantly gave Hughes permission to speak to City yesterday and the farce that is the Premiership managerial merry-go-round is underlined by the fact that Mark Hughes is currently not only the [1.63] favourite on Betfair to take over the reins at Manchester City - but he is also the [4.2] market-leader on the exchange to be the next Chelsea manager.

It could well be that he ends up staying at Blackburn - and that could be the best betting tip for punters on these volatile and unpredictable next manager betting markets.

Betfair spokesman Tony Calvin commented: "A number of the same faces are being backed on both markets, with Mark Hughes bizarrely the favourite on both.

"But the shrewd punters out there could well be the ones who same-stakes lay Hughes at around [1.78] for the City job and at [4.2] for the Chelsea hotseat.

"If he stays at Blackburn, or indeed goes elsewhere, then punters would collect on both bets.

"Layers on both markets would still win if he went to City, and only an unlikely move to Stamford Bridge would cost them money."

Other candidates for the City job include Zico [9.2], Allardyce [14.5], Mancini [25.0], Grant [27.0], Deshcamps [40.0], Rijkaard [42.0] and Scolari [34.0].

After Hughes [4.2], other leading candidates for the Chelsea job are Rijkaard [5.1], Scolari [7.4], Ancelotti [6.6],