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Monday's market moves

Last updated: 9th June 2008

Shearer: Linked with Blackburn

Alan Shearer is the 6/4 favourite with Sky Bet to be the next Blackburn manager despite Rovers chairman John Williams denying reports he is set to hold talks with the former Ewood Park favourite.

Rovers have been on the lookout for a new boss since Mark Hughes left last week to take charge of Premier League rivals Manchester City.

The likes of Sam Allardyce, Paul Ince and Steve McClaren have been linked with the role but former Blackburn striker Shearer has emerged as the clear favourite with the bookies.

He's Sky Bet's market leader at 6/4, ahead of Allardyce at 5/2, Ince at 4/1 and McClaren at 10s.

Speculation had suggested that Williams was about to fly out to Austria to meet Shearer and discuss his interest.

However, Williams has now played down reports that Shearer could be offered the position by telling Sky Sports News that 40 applications have been submitted.

It remains unclear whether Shearer is on that list, but Williams insists that Blackburn will not be rushed into an appointment.

Twenty20 vision

The Twenty20 Cup gets under way on Wednesday with defending champions Kent taking on Sussex, live on Sky Sports 1 from 5:30pm.

Kent are 8/1 joint favourites with Sky Bet to defend their title and it's 5/2 for Sussex to top the Southern Group.

Kent's Robert Key, who has scored a total of 544 runs from 22 innings in Twenty20 cricket, is Sky Bet's 14/1 joint favourite to be the tournament's top batsman along with the former England international Marcus Trescothick.

Shaun Pollock, who is currently tenth on the all time Test wicket takers list, is the 12/1 favourite to take the most wickets in the Twenty20 Cup, with his South African colleague Andrew Hall next best at 14/1.

Durham and England's Steve Harmison, who recently took at hat trick against Sussex, is available at 16/1.