Chris Coleman the latest favourite for the Manchester City job

With some players set to return to their clubs tomorrow for early pre-season fitness training it might be a good idea for Manchester City to appoint a manager to replace the yawning gaps left by Barton and Distin.  City were a handful of points away from relegation last season and losing two of their four best players (Dunne and Richards are not expected to leave) and manager suggests that a full blown relegation campaign is probable.

Just as well then that a manager who is used to keeping Fulham overperforming on a tight budget is being linked with the job.

According to Ladbrokes, Chris Coleman is the new favourite to take over at Eastlands as a build up of betting has halved his price in the last 24 hours, from 5/2, through 2/1 and into 7/4.

With Coleman's experience of the lower half of the division he would seem a far better appointment than many of the exotic names being mentioned given City's predicament.

Ladbrokes spokesman, Nick Weinberg, said:

"Coleman and Deschamps are the candidates the punters have wanted to be with this week. But given the air of uncertainty surrounding Manchester City there promises to be more twists and turns before an appointment is made."

Didier Deschamps is 7/2 to take over at Eastlands.

Next permanent Man City manager

Chris Coleman         7/4        
Didier Deschamps         7/2        
Sven Goran Eriksson         4/1        
Co Adriaanse         7/1        
Gerard Houllier         10/1        
Ronald Koeman         10/1        
Juande Ramos         12/1        
Mark Hughes         12/1        
Graeme Souness         16/1        
Gordon Strachan         20/1        
Louis Van Gaal         20/1        
Neil Warnock         20/1        
Billy Davies         25/1        
Paul Jewell         25/1        
David O Leary         33/1        
Glenn Hoddle         33/1        
Paul Simpson         33/1        
Ruud Gullitt         33/1        
Guus Hiddink         40/1        
Felix Magath         50/1        
Iain Dowie         50/1        
Jurgen Klinsmann         50/1        
Leo Beenhakker         50/1        
Adrian Boothroyd         66/1        
Paul Ince         66/1        
Peter Reid         66/1