Lambert towards top of shortlist for West Ham job

Speculation has been rife in recent days that Paul Lambert has now become the number one managerial target at West Ham and 10/1 could therefore be a big price that he is appointed as Avram Grant’s successor.

Lambert has done a remarkable job since taking over at Norwich, securing back-to-back promotions and bringing Premier League football back to Carrow Road next season.

This fact makes it difficult to believe that Lambert would be willing to part with an opportunity in the Premier League to take a step back down the football ladder, particularly to a club that are liable to be tight with their finances in the upcoming campaign.

However, he would not be the first manager to have ever taken a step backwards with the hope of gaining a big step forwards in the long term, with this being most recently done by Nigel Adkins following his switch earlier in the season from Scunthorpe to Southampton.

Meanwhile, West Ham do have the move to the Olympic Stadium on the horizon and arguably will at worst be on par with Norwich again in 12 months time.

Although it is believed that the Hammers are yet to have made a formal approach for Lambert, there has been speculation that the manager is in dispute over a new contract he has been offered by Norwich, which is worth a reported £1.6m each year including bonuses and incentives.

There are currently a host of managers potentially in the frame to take over at Upton Park with new names being regularly added to the next permanent West Ham manager betting market.

Chris Hughton remains the favourite at 6/4, with Birmingham’s Alex McLeish, Walter Smith and former Hammers fan favourite Julian Dicks among the newest additions.

McLeish is 10/1 alongside Lambert, with Dicks 33/1 and Smith 40/1.

A £30 stake on Paul Lambert being the next West Ham manager would return £300. New customers can sign up here for a free £30 bet.