Gerard to dig himself out of a houl?

GERARD HOULLIER is the member of the ‘troubled four’ expected to stay in his job the longest, according to bookies Ladbrokes.

The Aston Villa boss is the 11/8 favourite to outstay his sack race rivals with Roy Hodgson the 6/1 outsider to be in charge of Liverpool while the others have moved on. He’s also 3/1 to still be at the helm at Anfield for the first game next term.

Hodgson’s uncertain future is reflected in his position at the top of the ‘Next manager to leave’ market where he is the sole odds-on candidate (4/6). Avram Grant was also backed into 3/1 (from 5/1), with Chelsea’s Carlo Ancelotti also a springer (4/1 from 11/2) despite earning an odds-on quote (4/7) to be in charge at the Bridge for the first game in the 2011/2012 season.

Alex Donohue of Ladbrokes said: “Wednesday night’s results whipped our sack race punters into a betting frenzy with all four under -fire managers slumping to defeat. We expect Hollier & Ancelotti to tough it out longer than the rest but board rooms at any of the four clubs could be erupting as we speak.”

Ladbrokes latest betting

To be in charge for first game next season
Houllier – 4/9
Ancelotti – 4/7
Grant – 9/4
Hodgson – 3/1

To last the longest
Houllier – 11/8
Ancelotti – 13/8
Grant – 9/2
Hodgson – 6/1

Next Premier league manager to leave
Roy Hodgson – 4/6
Avram Grant – 3/1
Carlo Ancelotti – 4/1
Gerard Houllier – 7/1
Mark Hughes – 12/1