Mackay favourite to replace under-scrutiny Allardyce at West Ham
Published:Forcing Sam Allardyce to ditch his defence-first strategy at West Ham always seemed like a potentially thorny issue for the east London club, and it seems a clash could end the manager’s tenure before the season has even begun.
Allardyce is just 7/4 to leave West Ham before the season starts according to Ladbrokes, as rumours that the club’s owners will look to install a new manager before the start of term gather pace.
The bookies have opened betting on his replacement and make Malky Mackay the 7/2 favourite to succeed the former Bolton man, with humiliated former Manchester United boss David Moyes 4/1 to resume his managerial career in east London.
Following a season of unrest last term, which saw the fans remarkably boo their side for winning, West Ham owners David Sullivan and David Gold laid out an attacking football blueprint for Allardyce to follow when sparing him the chop.
Although the burly boss seems to have fully endorsed the new ideals, signing Enner Valencia and Mauro Zarate up front, Gold’s criticism of Andy Carroll’s purchase looks to have set toungues wagging over a potential change in the Upton Park.
The manager and board also seem at odds over the future of Ravel Morrison, with Allardyce claiming he’s not part of first-team plans and the board publicly stating their intention to offer the midfielder a new contract.
Either way, West Ham are 4/1 to be relegated this season but are a shorter price at 2/1 to finish in the top half.
Alex Donohue of Ladbrokes said: “We’re not prepared to offer a big price about Allardyce making it to the start of the season. The market to replace him features plenty of familiar faces and should he depart we expect Moyes to be a popular bet fill the void.”
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
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