The past three winners of the award have been Sir Alex Ferguson in 2011, former Fulham boss Roy Hodgson (2010) and Everton’s David Moyes in 2009. Fergie gained plaudits last year for winning a remarkable 12^th league title with United, and for reaching the Champions League Final for the third time in four seasons. He side also had decent runs in both The FA Cup and Carling Cup. The legendary Scot is the 2/1 favourite to retain the LMA award and win it for an unprecedented fourth time. However, you feel that in order to do this, he will not only have to win yet another Premier League trophy but go one better than last year and win the Champions League, both of which are harder said than done, even for a club like United and a manager of Ferguson’s expertise.

At 7/2 the new Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas is also in the running, as is Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini at 5/1. Although he is desperate to distance himself from comparisons to Jose Mourinho, Villas-Boas would love to repeat The Special One’s achievements at Chelsea, and what a statement it would be if he was to guide Chelsea to their fourth Premier League crown in eight years. However, we all know it is the Champions League that Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich craves, although a trophy of any means will be a confidence booster for Villas-Boas and will be well recieved by the Chelsea faithful. Following their impressive third place league finish and FA Cup win last season, Man City are finally looking like a force to contend with, and they will certainly be major contenders in all competitions in the 2011/12 season. If Mancini can guide his troops to Premier League glory then the award would most certainly be his.

Outside of the major contenders for the award, available at a temping 14/1 each are the Premier League new boys Neil Warnock, Brendan Rodgers and Paul Lambert. In the past, Reading and Wigan Athletic have enjoyed fantastic first season’s in England’s top flight following their respective promotions from the Championship, and the three new promoted club’s will be looking to follow in their lead. They will also take inspiration from the fantastic starts from Hull and Blackpool in recent years. If Warnock, Rodgers or Lambert can masterclass a top ten finish and perhaps string together a decent run in one of the domestic cup competitions, then they can count themselves as real contenders for the award.

Elsewhere, under pressure Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is priced at 8/1 and Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish is available at 10/1.

2012 LMA Manager of the Year Outright Betting – correct as of 14/07/2011

• 2/1 – Sir Alex Ferguson
• 7/2 – Andre Villas Boas
• 5/1 – Roberto Mancini
• 8/1 – Arsene Wenger
• 10/1 – Harry Redknapp
• 12/1 – Kenny Dalglish
• 12/1 – David Moyes
• 14/1 – Martin Jol
• 14/1 – Paul Lambert
• 14/1 – Neil Warnock
• 14/1 – Brendan Rodgers
• 14/1 – Roy Hodgson
• 14/1 – Tony Pulis
• 16/1 – Owen Coyle
• 20/1 – Mick McCarthy
• 20/1 – Steve Bruce
• 20/1 – Alex McLeish
• 20/1 – Roberto Martinez
• 25/1 – Steve Kean
• 25/1 – Alan Pardew
• 25/1 – Gus Poyet
• 33/1 – Sam Allardyce

All odds courtesy of Victor Chandler

Since taking over six weeks ago Thorn has won three, drawn three and lost two games, which has enabled Coventry to stay in the Championship. If the club had shown that type of form throughout the whole season then they would definitely have been challenging for promotion instead of fighting off the threat of relegation. The 44-year-old will most certainly be a popular appointment among Coventry players and fans due to his attack minded style of play and belief in a passing game. His mission now will be to build a team that is capable of gaining promotion to the Premier League. Coventry have been absent from England’s top tier since they were relegated at the end of the 2000/01 season and there’s nothing more their fans crave more than a return to the big time, and Thorn will now be in charge of granting their wishes.

Thorn’s first official game in charge as the permanent boss of Coventry is a tough home match against promotion chasing Reading. Victor Chandler have Reading as the favourites at 6/5, whilst Coventry are 12/5 to get off to a winning start under Thorn, and a draw is available at 5/2.

Nottingham Forest manager, Billy Davies, is the clear favourite with Coral to be the next manager in the Championship to leave their post at 9/2 and following a summer of no incoming transfers at the City Ground and continued rumours of unsettled relations between Davies and the board anything less than a flying start for Forest may see the two part company.

Victor Chandler, who sponsor Nottingham Forest’s shirt, thus may be better informed take a different view and make Davies an 8/1 chance to be the first to leave, putting  Malky Mackay (4/1) and Kevin Blackwell (5/1) at the head of the betting. Mackay is just beginning his second season in charge at Watford and with the lack of funds at his disposal, it would be harsh to see him sacked early on in the season. Equally, Blackwell at Sheffield United has not had huge amounts to spend in the close season but the Blades should be equipped to make a solid start to the season and an early departure seems unlikely at Bramall Lane.

One manager who is sure to be under pressure to start the season well is Burnley’s Brian Laws, who had a baptism of fire when taking over the Turf Moor club in the Premier League last season which saw fans calling for his sacking at the end of the season. The Burnley board gave him the dreaded vote of confidence following relegation but anything less than a promotion push from the outset could see the former Sheffield Wednesday manager uner pressure and he knows all too well about that following his dismissal from Hillsbrough less than twleve months ago and could be a good bet at 10/1.

Other managers who must prove their worth include Nigel Clough at Derby County, Roy Keane at Ipswich and Gordon Strachan at Middlesborough.

Next Championship Manager to leave Odds
Billy Davies 9/2
Kevin Blackwell 10/1
Malky Mackay 10/1
Brian Laws 10/1
Roy Keane 10/1
Brian McDermott 10/1
Steve Cotterill 16/1
Aidy boothroyd 16/1
Nigel Clough 16/1
Neil Warnock 20/1
Nigel Adkins 20/1
Paul Lambert 20/1
Brendan Rodgers 20/1
Dave Jones 20/1
George Burley 20/1
Gordon Strachan 20/1
Paulo Sousa 25/1
Steve Coppell 25/1
Darren Ferguson 25/1
Simon Grayson 25/1
Nigel Pearson 25/1
Kenny Jackett 33/1
Sean O’Driscoll 33/1
Mark Robins 33/1
Odds supplied by Coral

Reading are on a great Cup run at the moment having knocked Liverpool out at Anfield before taking care of Burnley at the Maejski Stadium in the 4th Round, McDermott who is the former Chief Scout at the club will be looking to translate that form into league points as he tries to plot their way out of trouble.  Reading have some key fixtures upcoming starting with a home match against Barnsley this Saturday and McDermott will be desperate to get his reign off to a winning start to start as they try to claw back the four points they need to climb out of the bottom three.

It is interesting to note that McDermott has only been offered a 12-month rolling contract which basically means that the Chairman can get rid of the new Manager at any stage that he likes, McDermott will be only too aware of that and will be eager to earn himself a more secure long-term contract at the club, the only way to do that is to start winning games and to stabilize the club in the Championship

Hoddle has been out of management since leaving Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2006, during which time he has set up an academy in Spain helping to coach players released from professional clubs as YTS’ in order to prolong their careers and potentially give them a second chance in finding another club. However, this venture has not stopped the former Spurs legend from being linked with just about every managerial vacancy in the past three years.

If Hoddle does take over at the Madjeski then it will be the sixth club that he has managed in the English football league, having managed Swindon, Chelsea, Southampton, Tottenham Hotspur and Wolves as well as manager of the England national team. His greatest achievement was probably guiding Swindon Town to the Premier League in 1993, together with an FA Cup final appearance with Chelsea in 1994 and League Cup final appearance with Spurs most recently in 2003.

Despite his three year absence, Hoddle has always maintained that he would like to return to management if the right opportunity arose and the job at Reading could work well for both parties. The Royals currently sit just above the  relegation zone in The Championship but a squad of talented players and Hoddle’s coaching skills and eye for talent should soon see the Berkshire club battling at the right end of the table once again.

Hoddle is currently 7/2 with Victor Chandler in the odds to be next Reading manager (Wednesday morning) but expect that price to be gone if the rumour is true and gathers momentum.

Next Reading Manager Odds (Victor Chandler)
Gareth Southgate 11/4
Brian McDermott 3/1
Glenn Hoddle 4/1
Darren Ferguson 7/2
Paul Tisdale 7/1
prices correct Wednesday 23rd December @ 10:39