Paulo Sousa is currently in charge at the Walkers Stadium but after a tough start to the season he finds himself under pressure, reports out of the club are suggesting that Sousa has a matter of games to save his skin with the new owners looking for quick progress. The club are looking to get back to the Premier League asap following the takeover from the Thai consortium in the Summer and they will know that Martin O’Neill is a name that would attractive a large amount of attention to the club. The fans would also be sure to welcome O’Neill back to the Midlands with open arms as they remember the heady days they enjoyed under him ten years ago, the club rose to prominence under O’Neill with a League Cup win the highlight of his tenure.

Whether or not O’Neill would want to drop down to the Championship remains to be seen as he looks for a new challenge in the game, he is of course looking to rebuild his career after he walked out of Villa recently amid much speculation. There was clearly a break down at the club involving O’Neill and he is likely to want to get straight back into the swing of things, a Premier League club though would surely be his preferred choice ahead of another stint with the Foxes. There does appear to be some money though at Leicester now and the new owners are likely to do everything in their power to take the club back to the top flight, Sousa clearly is on borrowed time and they will be looking to get their own man in as soon as possible.

The club currently sit bottom of the Championship with just five points on the board from the first eight games of the season, this comes after a pre-season which was full of hope for Leicester fans as they looked to build on their play-off place of last campaign but so far it is yet to work out. This was highlighted on Friday night when the his side were thrashed by fellow strugglers Portsmouth 6-1, it was a woeful performance from the Foxes that has led to Sousa coming under increasing pressure and in turn the mooted return of O’Neill has become a possibility.

It is understood that Hart has been approached by Southampton and is one of the names on the shortlist for potential replacements for Pardew, the next appointment for the Saints will be absolutely crucial as they look to get back to the big time and Hart will be eager to land the role.

Paul Hart is an interesting character with a mixed record in Management, he is most famous for his stint at south coast rivals Portsmouth last year as he oversaw the early part of their Premier League campaign, it was a season that would end in relegation though Hart was working in tough conditions. After leaving Pompey Hart moved onto a short lived spell at QPR which ended after just five games with him walking out, it was a bizarre turn of events but he was not out of a job for long as he took on the challenge of keeping Crystal Palace in the Championship. It was his third job of the season but he did manage to keep the Eagles in the Championship on the last day of the season, he should be praised for his job at Selhurst Park but it was not enough to keep the job on a permanent basis and is now back at the Job Centre.

Hart would not necessarily be the most popular appointment amongst the Southampton fans but VC Bet.com have been watching the betting market closely and have cut the chances of Hart being appointed in to around the 7/1 mark at the moment. Favouritism at the moment in the Next Southampton Manager Odds lies with Phil Brown and Eddie Howe, Bournemouth fans will be getting worried with their young Manager once again being linked with a big vacancy. Howe is just down the M27 at Dean Court and will surely be tempted should he be approached by Southampton, he has worked wonders at Bournemouth on a shoe string budget and that has not gone unnoticed at St Marys.

Phil Brown should not be ruled out at this stage either, he is a man with Premier League experience and has led Hull to promotion from the Championship, that should stand him good stead in a pressure situation like the one he would face at St Marys. Any manager taking on the roll will know that automatic promotion is the bare minimum this season with the club desperate to get back to the Championship, they have spent big as a club and the owners and board will demand that the squad delivers this term. It is an attractive job though for an ambitious Manager looking to make the climb up the Ladder, they have everything in place to be back at the top of the game so there is sure to be no shortage of top candidates a the betting suggests.

Next Southampton Manager Odds with VC Bet – 08/09/2010

Nigel Adkins – 1/4
Phil Brown – 5/2
Jeff Kenna – 12/1
Gianfranco Zola – 12/1
Eddie Howe – 14/1
Paul Buckle – 18/1
Rolf Fringer – 20/1
Martin O’Neill – 20/1
Paul Tisdale – 20/1
Paul Hart – 20/1
Iain Dowie – 20/1
Others On request

All markets supplied by Victor Chandler

Man City are still embroiled in a four-way battle for 4th spot in the Premier League which would secure Champions League Football for the first time for the big spending club. It is however being suggested by sources within City that Mancini could be on his way regardless of Champions League qualification, its no secret that the big spending City owners are expecting success at Eastlands and will not hesitate if they believe Mancini is under performing. Mark Hughes is testament to that having been given the boot in December despite losing only two games this season, Mancini will be feeling the heat having already suffered a number of losses since taking the reigns.

If Mancini does manage to steer Man City into the Champions League this season then he would feel hard done by if he is given the boot by the ambitious owners. Much may depend on the availability of some of the top Managers with Jose Mourinho being constantly linked with the Manchester club and a return to the Premier League. Should Mancini be given the elbow from City then he will not be short of offers from back in Italy with Juventus looking to replace Alberto Zacherroni in the Summer with the Turing team struggling to qualify foe the Champions League themselves.

Rumours are rife that Jose Mourinho is top of the wanted list for the City owners in the Summer, Mourinho has been dropping a number of hints that he will be returning to the Premier League in the Summer and speculation is building. The Special One may well see City as the ideal club to return to England with as he would be sure to get a huge transfer war chest to spend on any number of players. He has a proven track record in England and would no doubt love the challenge of bringing the Premier League to Eastlands for the very first time and renewing his rivalry with Sir Alex Ferguson.

There has also been regular speculation surrounding Hughes with a return to the Premier League with West Ham, Gianfranco Zola is under big pressure at Upton Park with the club struggling both on and off the pitch at the moment and many are linking Hughes with a rescue mission at Upton Park. The Sack Race understands that should Zola be given the elbow by the new owners at Upton Park then Mark Hughes is the man at the top of the shortlist to come in, Hughes only lost two matches at Man City and had a successful period at Blackburn previously meaning there will be plenty of clubs like the Hammers who will be willing to take a risk on him.

That brings us to Blackburn who themselves are not having the best season under Sam Allardyce which is reflected in the Next Premier League Manager To be Sacked Odds, Allardyce rescued Rovers from relegation last season but they have not really kicked on and at the moment sit just above the drop zone. There are a few rumblings of discontent coming out of Ewood Park right now and most of the fans and no doubt the board would jump at the chance to bring Mark Hughes back to the club where he made his name as a Manager.

At the moment Hughes will be sat back enjoying his time off assessing his next move and he appears to have his options open at this stage, both Gianfranco Zola and Sam Allardyce will be aware that Sparky is lurking in the background waiting to swoop in at a moments notice at either Ewood or Upton Park. A Premier League job seems the most likely at this stage but the Turkey opportunity is an interesting one as he may like a fresh challenge in the Steve McLaren mould who is rebuilding his career successfully in Holland.