Jol the best bet of the outsiders in the Premier League sack race

Steve Kean may have been heavily backed to be the next Premier League manager to leave, but the smarter money may arrive for Martin Jol as a potentially challenging upcoming fixture list could leave his job in jeopardy.

Under normal circumstances, Kean would have probably been sacked long ago, but Blackburn is currently no normal club.

The Venky Group appear unwilling to put any more money into the club and although they want Kean out, they do not want to pay him off and also fork out compensation to appoint a replacement.

Therefore, with the club basically unable to afford to sack Kean, his job may effectively be safe regardless of how long his current run of poor results lasts.

With Kean as short as 1/6 in the sack race, this means there is plenty of value to be found elsewhere.

Alex McLeish and Andre Villas-Boas are also among the favourites in the market, but like Kean financial reasons should ensure their extended stays at Aston Villa and Chelsea respectively.

Thus, it may pay to have a punt on a longshot, with Mick McCarthy a potential contender at 12/1 given Wolves’ struggles.

However, with Jol seemingly not particularly well liked by Fulham fans, he could represent the biggest value at 16/1.

Jol has hardly set Craven Cottage alight since being appointed as manager in the summer.

Big-money signing Bryan Ruiz has to date failed to justify his lofty price tag, while Fulham are already out of the Europa League despite going through the rigmarole of playing the extra games to qualify for the competition.

This may be forgotten if the club was performing well in the league, but this is not the case and they are only marginally above the relegation places.

If Clint Dempsey leaves in January this could place them in even more trouble, while Jol could be targeted by the boo-boys after the upcoming stretch of fixtures.

Three of their next four league games are away, while the home encounter is a tough one against Arsenal, meaning they could be in a greater relegation scrap after this run.

Plans are also advanced for a new stand and so relegation is no option, meaning that Jol may be ousted if results do not improve soon.