Highly-rated Championship chief up for Reading survival task

After Reading’s ruthless sacking of Brian McDermott, the search for his replacement may be about to come to an end, with Gus Poyet being backed into 1/6 for the role.

The current Brighton manager has come in for massive support, and as a result his odds to succeed McDermott have diminished significantly from the 5/1 he was available at earlier in the week.

Poyet is currently battling to secure a play-off spot with the Seagulls, but could relish the challenge of keeping Reading in the Premier League, with 13/2 the price that the Royals avoid relegation.

The fact that they are 1/18 favourites to go down signals the magnitude of the task he faces though, if he does swap the Amex Stadium for the Madejski.

It is thought that Poyet’s infectious personality appeals to Royals owner Anton Zingarevich, who believes the Uruguayan could be the ideal man to make an instant impact upon the playing squad.

In a similar way to Paolo Di Canio, who has drifted to 16/1 for the post after an initial stint as favourite, the former Chelsea man would bring considerable pedigree to the club in light of his playing career.

And that too looks as though it could massively favour the often outspoken 45-year-old in his pursuit of the Berkshire vacancy.

There are a number of other options available for consideration in the betting for the next Reading manager meanwhile, even if Poyet’s odds-on price suggests he is on the cusp of securing the post.

Ex-Southampton chief Nigel Adkins is 5/2 second-favourite, whilst Phil Parkinson, who guided Bradford to the League Cup final this season, has lengthened to 10/1 to return to the club where he ended his playing career.

Of the other most feasible-looking options, current caretaker manager Eamonn Dolan is also 10/1, and the team’s display under his stewardship at Manchester United will have done little to harm his chances.

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