Rock-bottom Rovers receive five times more bets than any other team to be relegated from League Two.
It always promised to be a tough season for Forest Green Rovers but the stark reality of the Football League has hit the Gloucestershire side hard. Part of the 92 for the first time in their history, the initial remit was to secure their place in the fourth tier, but money has come piling in on Rovers to be relegated after just one win from nine matches.
A 2-0 defeat at home to Swindon in front of the Sky cameras has proved a catalyst for bettors. 59% of League Two relegation bets have gone on Rovers since that loss, which is five times more bets than any other club. A defence that has conceded a league-high 22 goals has done nothing to calm any fears that manager Mark Cooper may have.
Rovers are currently 3/1 to make an immediate return to the Conference, a far cry from the 10/1 you could have got at the start of the month. They are currently third favourites in the market, between Morecambe and Port Vale, who are both 11/4.
Vale are the biggest surprise at the front of the market, after being one of the favourites for promotion at the start of the season, reflected in their 20/1 price for relegation before a ball was kicked.
However bettors appear to have faith in the side from Burslem, with only 4% of relegation bets going on Vale over the weekend, possibly instigated by a gritty 1-1 draw against Yeovil at Huish Park on Saturday, played in front of joint Caretaker managers Ned Kelly and Chris Morgan.
Oddschecker Spokesman George Elek: “Despite there being only two relegation spots, League Two is always a battle as the road back into the Football League after falling out of it is one of the toughest in football. Forest Green have shown signs of progress but the defeat in front of the Sky cameras has been enough for punters to back the side for relegation on the back of what they saw.
Meanwhile Port Vale are in freefall and back-to-back relegations are a real possibility. However punters are slow to believe, possibly because the right appointment could well see the side from the Potteries moving in the right direction.”
