Bristol Rovers manager Joey Barton has been named among the favourites by bookmakers to take over at Stoke City following the dismissal of Michael O’Neill on Thursday.
O’Neill has been sacked after the Potters poor start to the campaign with just one win from their opening six games in league and cup, which followed on from a disappointing 2021/22 season. His No2 Dean Holden has been placed in interim charge with Stoke travelling to Blackburn Rovers on Saturday.
Barton has leapt up the betting to second behind Burnley manager Sean Dyche, with the Rover boss priced at 5/2 by SkyBet, just ahead of Middlesbrough’s Chris Wilder - who has fallen from 50/1 to 5/1 - and Mark Robins of Coventry City.