Tuesday 13 October 2015 12:22, UK
Sam Allardyce's odds on becoming the next Sunderland boss have plummeted following a string of significant bets.
Sky Bet's market was relatively wide open, with Bob Bradley and Nigel Pearson also considered strong contenders, before Allardyce attracted a surge of interest on Thursday, prompting his odds to come in from 9/4 to just 1/5.
Bradley and Pearson have both since drifted out to double-figure prices, with David Moyes currently considered the second favourite at 14/1.
Sunderland are on the lookout for a new manager following Dick Advocaat's decision to resign eight games into the Premier League season, with the Black Cats left with just three points to their name after letting a two-goal lead slip against West Ham on Saturday.
Chairman Ellis Short has additional time to look for a new manager before their next match thanks to the international break, with former ex-chairman Niall Quinn and former Black Cats boss Gus Poyet both throwing their support behind Allardyce.
The 60-year-old is available after parting company with West Ham at the end of last season and boasts a wealth of experience in the Premier League, avoiding relegation during spells at Bolton, Newcastle, Blackburn and the Hammers, two of which he led to promotion to the top flight.
Sky Bet's Chris Spicer said: "Allardyce looks the obvious candidate, hence why he was installed as the initial favourite, but it wasn't until this morning (Thursday) that we started to see heavy support for him.
"Bob Bradley was briefly backed into favouritism on Wednesday but is now out to 16/1, with interest drying up on him along with the rest of the candidates in our market."
