We have seen a surge of bets on the ex-Baggie to take charge at the Hawthorns.
Alan Pardew has been odds-on for the managerial position at West Brom since the beginning of the week. Opening at 14/1 on Monday, the ex-Crystal Palace manager is now best price 4/11 after reportedly holding positive talks with the club, and has accounted for just over a quarter of all bets placed on the market this week.
However, it is the recently sacked Leicester manager who is the man that has been most backed for the job today, receiving over half of all bets. 52.3% have been on Craig Shakespeare to take the helm at the Hawthorns, and that number rises to 76.9% when just looking at bets in the last four hours. He is now as short as 6/1 after being available at 33/1 this morning.
Shakespeare has a history with the Baggies and has been in the dugout once before. Between 1990-1993 he made 112 appearances for the club as a player and re-joined the club as part of the backroom staff in 1999, where he went on work his way up to reserve team coach before being drafted in as caretaker manager for one game in 2006 after the sacking of Bryan Robson.
There seems to be real momentum behind the 54-year-old in the betting and it's doubtful the top price of 25/1 on offer with one bookmaker will last much longer.
Oddschecker spokesman, George Elek: 'This has been an interesting market since Pulis' dismissal, with former Crystal Palace boss Pardew remaining very heavy favourite despite minimal news coming out about the vacancy at the Baggies. Shakespeare would probably not be a popular choice, despite securing the Leicester job after impressing as a caretaker'
