ROY HODGSON is the overwhelming favourite to make a sensational return to Crystal Palace as their new manager.
Bookmakers Ladbrokes have slashed Hodgson’s odds to 1/5 to come out of retirement to try and steer the Eagles away from the drop.
Vieira was relieved from his duties at Selhurst Park last Friday morning after a shocking run of just one win in their last 14 games.
Palace are just three points clear of the bottom three as a result.
Vieira was there for just 18 months but was praised by Palace chairman Steve Parish for the ‘impact’ he made.
He said: “It is with enormous regret that this difficult decision has been made.
“Ultimately, results in recent months have placed us in a precarious league position and we felt a change is necessary to give us the best chance of retaining Premier League status.”
Ladbrokes odds
Middlesbrough boss Michael Carrick had lead the betting to make a switch to Crystal Palace but is now out of the betting.
Instead, a return for 75-year-old Roy Hodgson looks ‘more likely every day’.
Hodgson has held talks with the Palace hierarchy after leaving in the summer of 2021.
Former Borussia Monchengladbach boss Adi Hutter is also understood to have held talks but is as big as 10/1 to take over.
He’s been out of work since leaving the Germans in the summer of last year, so there would be no issues with compensation.
Interim boss Paddy McCarthy is the current second favourite, having taken the team in their thumping defeat at Arsenal last weekend.
Ralph Hasenhuttl (12/1), Jesse Marsch (14/1) and Marcelo Bielsa (14/1) are also listed by Ladbrokes.
Alex Apati of Ladbrokes said: “A Roy return is looking more likely by the hour at this rate, with the former Palace boss now just 1/5 to be back in the Selhurst Park dugout before the end of the season.”
A responsible gambler is someone who:
For help with a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or go to www.gamstop.co.uk to be excluded from all UK-regulated gambling websites.
*18+ New UK+IRE Customers only. Certain deposit methods & bet types excl. Min first £/€5 bet within 14 days of account reg at min odds 1/2 to get 4x £/€5 free bets. Free bets available to use on selected sportsbook markets only. Free bets valid for 7 days, stake not returned. Restrictions + T&Cs apply. Begambleaware.org
