Next Scotland Manager Odds: Levein is favourite but Collins makes early bid

Scottish Football / Maxliu / 17 November 2009 / Leave a Comment

Who will answer his country's call?

"The Dundee United boss leads a market in which Walter Smith [4.1] and John Collins [5.4] also feature prominently."

Will the Tangerines let Levein leave? Should the SFA favour youth or guile? Will Ferguson manage his country? The search is on for a replacement for George Burley and Betfair's Next Scotland Manager market offers punters plenty of value.

Betfair punters have installed Craig Levein as the [3.1] favourite to succeed George Burley as Scotland manager.

The Dundee United boss leads a market in which Walter Smith [4.1] and John Collins [5.4] also feature prominently. He is said to top the SFA's list of possible replacements for Burley, whose miserable 22 month reign was brought to an end on Monday, following Saturday's humiliating 3-0 defeat to Wales.

However, with newspapers reporting that it will cost the SFA around £2 million in compensation and wages to secure Levein's services, Betfair's Scottish football correspondent John Girvan believes that punters should put their money elsewhere.

"I can't see Levein taking it, " he said. "He's got unfinished business at Dundee United and odds of [3.1] are far too short."

As for the chances of Walter Smith returning to manage the national side, Girvan was also sceptical. "Even having achieved what he has with Rangers, he still has things he wants to do at Ibrox."

Girvan's preferred candidate is former-Rangers boss Graeme Souness. "He's far and away the strongest option. But he's distanced himself from the job so probably isn't worth backing at [11.5].

"Saying that, I do think an out-of-work candidate is the best bet. The SFA are always looking for the cheap option. John Collins could be a good bet - he's said he's interested - but apart from him, I fancy an outsider, perhaps even somebody like George Graham , who isn't even in the market at present. "

Collins was previously in charge at Hibernian for just over a year and the SFA may feel that he lacks the experience necessary to manage at international level. However, young, relatively inexperienced candidates are prominent in the market.

Darren Ferguson, who recently left Peterborough after leading them to successive promotions, can be backed at [10.5] and Ally McCoist, who was assistant manager when Walter Smith was in charge, trades at [13.0]. West Ham United coach Steve Clarke has no experience as a manager but achieved a wealth of success as assistant at Chelsea. He may not be bad bet at [11.0].

Brian McClair, currently impressing within Manchester United's youth set-up, can be backed at [10.0]. The man they call 'Choccy' would be a surprising choice, though his appointment would be less of a shock than that of the market's big outsider, Sir Alex Ferguson at [25.0].