Duncan Ferguson is now odds on to replace Lee Johnson as the next Sunderland manager as Everton prepare to confirm the appointment of Frank Lampard.
'Big Dunc', Everton's Caretaker Manager since the sacking of Rafael Benitez, will reportedly reject the chance to become a set-piece coach under Lampard at Goodison Park, and instead take the Sunderland manager job – for which he has been cut into a best price 4/6.
A 6-0 defeat to Bolton was the final straw at Sunderland for Johnson, who still leaves the Black Cats well set for a tilt at promotion to the Championship. They are third in League One but only two points behind league leaders Rotherham.
Lampard emerged late in the running to take the Everton job, with Ferguson originally one of three closely priced contenders alongside Wayne Rooney and Roberto Martinez – only sacked by the club as recently as 2016.
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It then became a case of Lampard or Pereira for Everton during the middle of last week before supporter backlash against the potential appointment of Pereira prompted the Portuguese coach to remove himself from the running – leaving the door open for Lampard.
Despite missing out on the top job at Everton, and subsequently passing up the chance to work under the former Derby and Chelsea manager, it appears that the 50-year-old Ferguson has quickly found his next move.
Interestingly, the likeliest rival to Ferguson for the next Sunderland manager post according to the latest betting odds from oddschecker is now John Terry, a long-term teammate of Lampard from their playing days with Chelsea. It would be the first permanent manager role for Ferguson or Terry should either sign on the dotted line at Sunderland.
Next Sunderland Manager Betting Odds:
- Duncan Ferguson – 4/6
- John Terry – 4/1
- Grant McCann – 6/1
- Neil Warnock – 16/1
- Neil Lennon – 16/1
