Time running out to claim lofty Sir Alex Ferguson SPOTY price

A huge 33/1 for the BBC Sports Personality Of The Year award prior to the announcement of his retirement, the sheer volume of cash coming in for Sir Alex Ferguson to land the gong has necessitated a price slash to 6/4.

But rather than rue the fact that they didn’t get on earlier, punters should lap up those odds whilst they remain available, with Ferguson now appearing a shoo-in for the award.

The legendary Glaswegian, a 13-time Premier League winner, heads the market for the accolade, ahead of 5/2 fellow Scot Andy Murray, who failed to claim this award last year despite a maiden Grand Slam success and the claiming of an Olympic gold medal.

Murray’s career remains relatively infantile also, and thus, the 25-year-old has plenty of time remaining to land the publicly-voted honour in future.

By contrast, Ferguson’s 40-year managerial career will have drawn to a close by the time the winner is announced, and he could be recognised in a lifetime achievement sense rather than for his accomplishments within the past year, as has been the case with some past award recipients.

Indeed, fellow Old Trafford legend Ryan Giggs was one of those, with his claiming of the 2009 renewal stemming more from recognition of an illustrious career, rather than his performances within the preceding year.

And the magnitude of tributes that have flooded in for Manchester United chief Ferguson, arguably the greatest manager of all time, truly show just how highly regarded he is amongst people within football, and the public alike.

Indeed, declarations of respect for the 71-year-old’s achievements came not only from United supporters, but fans of rivals Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester City amongst others via Twitter and other social media platforms.

And with public respect for Ferguson apparently at a premium universally, it is difficult to envisage him not adding to a vast silverware collection with this BBC accolade.

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