Curbishley odds-on, but Holloway sneaking into Wolves reckoning

Alan Curbishley has been heavily backed from an initial 5/1 into 8/11 in the Premier League odds to be the next Wolves manager, but Ian Holloway has emerged as a logical dark horse to take over at Molineux.

Comments from Wolves chairman Jex Moxey that Curbishley “is exactly the calibre of person the club is looking for” has obviously impacted the betting market and makes the former West Ham manager look the prime candidate to take over from Mick McCarthy.

Curbishley has the track record to fulfil the criteria of the attributes Wolves want from a new manager, continuously keeping Charlton in the Premier League on a shoestring budget.

Meanwhile, he took over at West Ham when they were in the relegation places and went on a winning run late in the season to miraculously survive.

However, it is not as cut and dry as that and other managers also have credentials that must appeal to the Wolves hierarchy.

A manager with Premier League experience almost looks a prerequisite to the role, with Moxey adding that the Wolves vacancy is “not the job for a novice”.

Holloway was not considered among the early frontrunners for the post straight after McCarthy’s sacking, but is now as short as 8/1 to take over.

Despite Blackpool’s relegation last season, Holloway emerged with his head held high after the club achieved far more than was initially predicted they would.

He has also picked the Tangerines up again since, sitting in the play-off places in the Championship even though they lost a host of their best players in the summer, including Charlie Adam, David Vaughan and DJ Campbell.

But if Wolves are to land Holloway, they will have to hope he is not given the vacant England job and there is a growing possibility that he could take over if Harry Redknapp decides to stay with Tottenham.