Big Sam ahead of two Foxes legends in race for Leicester job

Sam Allardyce has been installed as the early favourite to replace sacked Leicester City manager Nigel Pearson.

The Foxes boss was given his marching orders on Tuesday evening after a string of off-field incidents was deemed to have resulted in a complete breakdown in the relationship between Pearson and the club’s owners.

Football matters seemed in good health, with the Foxes winning seven and drawing one of their last nine games to avoid relegation last season, but a number of incidents, including spats with fans and journalists and the sacking of Pearson’s son for the debacle in Thailand, eventually took their toll.

Big Sam has been priced up at 7/2 to cut short his break from the game after leaving West Ham, but the former Bolton and Newcastle gaffer has competition in the shape of two club legends.

Neil Lennon, who played over 150 games for the Foxes and lifted the League Cup twice during his stay, can be backed at 4/1, while Martin O’Neill, who oversaw those cup triumphs, is priced at 8/1 to return to the dugout.

Current Foxes player Esteban Cambiasso, is also in the running, with Ladbrokes pricing the Argentine at 7/1 to make his first foray into management as Pearson’s replacement.

A Ladbrokes spokesman said: “The season hasn’t even started and already we have our first managerial casualty.

“Big Sam may have insisted on a break after his Upton Park exit but the betting suggests he’ll be out of the armchair and back in the big time sooner rather than later.”

Leicester get their season under way at home to Sunderland as 19/20 favourites and are 4/1 for relegation, but their odds for the drop would surely drift if a steady hand like Allardyce is handed the reins.

Ladbrokes latest betting

Next Permanent Leicester City manager…

7/2         Sam Allardyce
4/1         Neil Lennon
7/1         Esteban Cambiasso
8/1         Martin O’Niell
8/1         Sean Dyche
10/1        Gus Poyet
12/1        Roberto Di Matteo
12/1        Karl Robinson
14/1        Kevin Phillips
16/1        David Moyes
16/1        Paul Lambert
16/1        Steve Bruce
16/1        Paul Dickov
16/1        Michael Laudrup
18/1        Jurgen Klopp
20/1        Harry Redknapp
25/1        Neil Warnock
33/1        Robbie Savage

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.

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