Next Stoke manager odds: Alex Neil favourite after Sunderland give permission for talks, Dyche, Barton and Terry trail

ALEX NEIL is the odds-on favourite to become Stoke City’s next manager after the departure of Michael O’Neill.

That’s according to bookmakers Sky Bet, who’ve significantly altered their betting markets overnight.

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Alex Neil is favourite to become Stoke City’s next manager, according to Sky BetCredit: GETTY SKY BET: GET £30 IN FREE BETS*

Neil wasn’t included in the original ‘next manager’ markets following the sacking of O’Neill on Thursday.

But he’s now the 4/9 favourite after claims Sunderland have given Stoke permission to speak to their boss.

The 41-year-old took charge at the Stadium of Light in February 2022, and helped achieve promotion after four years in League One.

The Black Cats have started the 2022-23 Championship campaign in style with eight points from a possible 15, including wins over Coventry and Stoke.

But the bookies think his stay in the North East will be brief, and the rescheduling of today’s press conference has only added to supporters’ concerns.

Sean Dyche is next in the market at 3/1 having been favourite yesterday.

Dyche was sacked in April with eight games of the season remaining, and left as the the Premier League’s longest serving manager.

Assistant manager Dean Holden will take charge on an interim basis, and is offered at 14/1 to get the job on a full-time basis.

Stoke next manager

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Middlesbrough’s Chris Wilder is also available at 14/1, ahead of Daniel Farke and Slaven Bilic, who are locked together at 16s.

Four candidates follow at 18/1, and those include Duncan Ferguson, Joey Barton, John Terry and Mark Robins.

O’Neill was relieved of his duties after a poor start to the Championship season.

The 53-year-old, who arrived in November 2019, was AXED having won just once in five Championship games.

O’Neill guided the club to a 15th and two successive 14th-placed finishes, winning 55 of his 143 matches in charge.

In a statement, chairman John Coates said: “Michael joined us in November 2019 when the club was in a difficult situation and the job he did in stabilising our position in the Championship should not be underestimated.

“Michael has worked tirelessly and with extreme professionalism, in particular in reshaping our squad and developing young players, but we feel the time is right to move in a different direction.

“I would like to thank him for his efforts and wish him every success for the future.”

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