No Betting On Steve Bruce

Bookmakers are convinced that Steve Bruce's departure from Sunderland as manager is imminent and all betting on who will be the next Premier League manager to go is currently suspended. Bookmakers have been inundated with bets for Bruce to be sacked following Sunderland's embarrasing loss at the hands of Wigan on Saturday .

Joe Crilly spokesman for William Hill , one of the UK's largest bookies said today"Rumours have been swirling around, suggesting the possibility of Steve Bruce's imminent departure from Sunderland, leaving us with no real alternative to suspending the market pending an official statement from the club about his future"

Tim Clement spokesman for Skybet was of the same view "We naturally saw quite a bit of money for Bruce to go from Saturday afternoon onwards but initially assumed it was just a reaction to such a terrible result for his team.



However, some of our shrewder punters have also got involved despite the significantly-shortened price, prompting us to suspect trouble could be brewing for Bruce."

Instead the bookmakers have started betting on who will replace Bruce at the Stadium Of Light and William Hill make Martin O'Neill strong favourite at odds of 5/4 with former Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez at 6/1 . Hills spokesman said " Martin O'Neill is linked to almost every high profile job in English football but the odds would suggest that were Sunderland to come calling, he might make his much anticipated return to Premier League management."

One interesting possibility for the Sunderland job should it come up is American Bob Bradley . Bradley managed the US national side into the secound round of the 2010 World Cup finals and is a very well respected coach . Whilst Bradley has just taken over as manager of the Egyptian national team he could well figure in Chairman Ellis Short's plans and is available currently at 20/1 with bookmaker Stan James.