Chris Powell favourite for Derby post as Nigel Pearson departs
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Chris Powell is the bookies favourite to succeed Nigel Pearson as Derby County manager, after an impressive start for the ex-Charlton boss as Rams caretaker.
After being suspended by the club last month, Pearson departed at the weekend, ending a difficult tenure at the east Midlands club.
Powell has taken charge of Derby’s last two fixtures, and after picking up a 2-0 win away at Cardiff and a 1-1 draw with Reading, has almost doubled the club’s points while doubling their goal tally.
The former England international has done his chances of getting the job on a permanent basis no harm at all, and the bookies make Powell the 10/11 favourite.
Birmingham City’s Gary Rowett is second in the betting, with the Blues boss 5/2 to rejoin the club he spent three seasons at in the mid-90s.
After impressing at Burton Albion, Rowett is doing a similar job at St Andrew’s, with Birmingham sitting in the play-off places having lost just once this term.
Next up comes free agent Steve Bruce, who has been without a club since quitting Hull City shortly before the season began.
The former Manchester United defender boasts plenty of Championship experience, and is third in the betting at 3/1.
Steve McClaren is the final name judged as a reasonable, according to the latest odds.
The ex-England boss is 6/1 to make a swift return to Derby, having almost guided them into the Premier League twice between 2013 and 2015.
The club haven’t confirmed who will take charge of this weekend’s fixture against Leeds United, but according to a local poll, 75 per cent said they would be happy should Powell be handed the reigns.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing
