Today's Papers / Top Dog / 16 January 2008 / Leave a comment " class="free-bet-btn" rel="external" onclick="javascript: pageTracker._trackPageview('/G4/inline-freebet');" target="_blank">Free Bet

Betfair's top dog sniffs around the truth behind the latest tabloid tales...

Cruft's champion - Top stories that can dominate the news agenda
Pedigree chum - Insights that tell you something you don't know
Dog's dinner - Speculation, guesswork, or ideas that just don't come off.

Top Dog says:

While all the focus on managerial change has been on Newcastle, the search goes on for a new Republic of Ireland manager. The Daily Mail has stayed close to the story all along, and went out on a limb on Monday by naming Steve Coppell as the current favourite of the three-man committee tasked with finding the new man. Now they say Lawrie Sanchez is due an interview. Muddled thinking, maybe, but there's one significant thing. Legendary long-serving writer Jeff Powell is one of Terry Venables' closest friends, and the Mail aren't backing current favourite Venners for the job. Top Dog thinks it must be worth laying the former England boss at [2.7].

Cruft's:

The Sun - I could do it! - Alan Shearer breaks his silence on Newcastle after flying home from his Barbados holiday and says he's ready to take the job if it's offered. It puts big pressure on Toon owner Mike Ashley because there's no doubt who the fans want. At the time of writing Shearer's [15.5] in the market - and even the Sun name Didier Deschamps as the new front runner - but his interview still makes good reading.

Daily Star - Pressure is on me not Fabio says Bilic - Croatia's boss starts the psychological warfare for the World Cup qualifying group. Interesting stuff as the Star finds space to let Bilic air his views. The Croats are [1.58] to qualify from their group in Euro 2008, and [14.5] to win the tournament.

Pedigree Chum:

Daily Mail - Owen wins takeover battle - Luton's real issue last night was not at Anfield but in the offices of their administrators, who gave the consortium fronted by former TV presenter Nick Owen preferred bidder status. Will it come in time to keep them afloat in League One? They remain [1.56] for relegation.

Daily Express - Drogba: Barca for me - Didier Drogba's future looks more and more certain to be away from Chelsea in the summer, and the giant striker is now telling everybody in Africa how he'd like to join Barcelona and play with Samuel Eto'o.

Daily Mirror - Dunne ready to ditch Sven - Manchester City captain Richard Dunne's talks over a new contract have broken down. The long-serving Republic of Ireland player, with more 300 appearances for the club, wants a pay deal more in line with the £70,000 a week his central defensive partner Micah Richards is asking for. David Anderson's exclusive flags up some worries for Sven Goran Eriksson.

Dog' s dinner:

Daily Express - Look who's talking - The Express goes for a hat-trick of Gerard Houllier stories, but it's beginning to look like a series of own goals. Niall Hickman says his agent will meet Newcastle today. Houllier's boss is ruling him out. The former Liverpool manager's odds are now out to [15.0].

Today's other stories:

The Sun - Feel the G-force - Robbie roar - other Cup reports and previews - Drog: I'll join Barca - Jules set to sparkle for West Ham

Daily Express - Rafa still the top for Kop - Keane's goal 99 - Swansea fear Havant rough stuff - Ashley intrigued by Keegan factor

Daily Star - Toon want Didi man - Hatt's magic, Gerro - Drog: I'll join Barca - Bilic raps England - Keano just Juan off a Spurs ton - Toon pride at stake - Rocky ready to KO Swansea - Slaven Bilic interview

Daily Mirror - Bring on DesChamps - Chelsea complete Ivanovic deal - Hat's for you, Rafa - Keane sets up United trip - more Cup reports - Al gets a ticket to paradise - Win this or we're a joke warns Pearson

Daily Mail - Rafa's retort - Newcastle will never lure the likes of Jose - Keane quick to snuff out Coppell from cup - Shoot-out agony for Charlton - more FA Cup reports and previews - Slaven Bilic interview

Tags: Republic of Ireland Manager Betting, Terry Venables