Europe can be backed at 8/11 with Skybet and Victor Chandler after Colin Montgomerie announced his wildcard picks for the Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor, now just a month away. Edoardo Molinari’s victory in the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles persuaded the Scot that he should take his place in the line-up alongside brother Francesco, with Luke Donald and Padraig Harrington also given the nod. That means there is no place in the squad for Justin Rose, a dual winner on the US PGA Tour this year, or Paul Casey who is currently ranked eighth in the world. Both players will be hugely disappointed, especially when one considers the recent form of Harrington in particular. But there is no getting away from the fact that the Irishman does often rise to the big occasions, he has won three Majors after all, while Donald has an exceptional record in Ryder Cup fourballs. The Englishman can be backed at 12/1 with Stan James to be his team’s leading points scorer at Celtic Manor, while Harrington is a best 11/1 with Skybet.

With six rookies in the European Ryder Cup team, there’s also a market surrounding which of the ‘newbies’ will tally the most points. Rory McIlroy is a general 9/4 favourite but Martin Kaymer, winner of the recent USPGA Championship in Sheboygan, is sure to be popular at Coral’s 10/3.

Montgomerie’s US counterpart Corey Pavin has an extra week to decide his final team with most of the speculation surrounding whether Tiger Woods will be one of the captain’s four wild card picks. Woods’ personal life is still in turmoil and his form has undoubtedly suffered as a result but it is unimaginable that the Americans will step off the plane in South Wales without Tiger among their ranks. The USA are a general 7/4 to retain the trophy with the tie available at 11/1 with bet365, sportingbet and Paddy Power.

It’s one of the most eagerly awaited Challenge Cup Finals of recent years and no surprise that this week’s clash between Leeds Rhinos and Warrington Wolves has sold out Wembley Stadium. For Wolves’ coach Tony Smith, it’s a particularly poignant occasion as he led the Rhinos to two Super League titles but they lost to Hull in the Challenge Cup Final in 2005 on the only occasion he led them out at Wembley. Leeds are the current Super League champions and in fair form coming into the Challenge Cup Final having won their last three games, including a dramatic semi-final win over St Helens. They’ve already notched a league double over the Wolves, which is why they are a best Evens with Stan James to be lifting the trophy at the end of 80 minutes. But both matches were hard-fought and defending cup holders Warrington have given every indication that they won’t surrender their crown, won in such scintillating style against Huddersfield Giants 12 months ago, easily.

The Giants were one of the Wolves’ early victims in this year’s competition and, like Leeds, Warrington have won their last three games, being particularly impressive when beating Hull 38-18 last week which included a 16-point haul for Ben Westwood. The marauding second-rower, who has also assumed kicking duties recently, has been one of the Wolves’ success stories this season and looks overpriced at 20/1 with Betfred to win the Lance Todd Man of the Match award at Wembley. Team-mate Lee Briers is currently 7/1 in this particular market with Betfred and Boylesports, while Leeds’ Danny Maguire can be backed at 8/1 with Skybet.

I’ve weighed up this final from several angles but whichever way I approach it, I just can’t see either side pulling clear of the other. The likely absence of Warrington’s England star Chris Bridge has swayed me towards the Rhinos, bidding for a first Challenge Cup win in 11 years, so I’m going for a 6-10 winning margin in favour of the Yorkshiremen at Coral’s 6/1.

• Leeds to Win Challenge Cup Final @ Evs with Stan James
• Leeds to Win by 6-10 points @ 6/1 with Coral
• Ben Westwood to Win Man of the Match @ 20/1 with Betfred

Despite reports that Martin O’Neill endured a ‘difficult’ relationship with Aston Villa owner Randy Lerner, it appears there is no lack of interest in replacing the Ulsterman in the hot seat at Villa Park. The early money was for Lerner’s American compatriot Bob Bradley, whose current contract with the USA national squad expires at the end of 2010. Bradley was generally thought to have done a good job in steering the Americans into the final 16 of the World Cup has been open in his ambition to coach in Europe. He can backed at 5/1 with Skybet to get the nod but is up against some big names if the media are to be believed. Sven Goran Eriksson is only 9/2 with Blue Square and 888sport but insists he has had no contact so far with Aston Villa. The former England manager has made no secert of the fact that he is looking for a move back into club management, however, and a big name like Villa would probably suit the Swede who is out of a job after parting company with the Ivory Coast following a less-than-successful World Cup in South Africa. Diego Maradona’s reported interest should probably be taken with a  pinch of salt and the Argentine is a 50/1 chance with Skybet but Martin Jol (9/1 with Blue Square and 888sport) could be on the short-list after topping a poll as the choice of Villa supporters in a local newspaper. But whether or not Ajax would allow him walk out on his contract is another matter as they blocked a move in the summer to Fulham. So how about compatriot Ronald Koeman? The Dutchman has coached at Valencia, Ajax and Benfica among others and has been on the lookout for a new club since being sacked by AZ Alkmaar last winter – Koeman is 12/1 with Paddy Power. But, of course, Lerner could opt to stick with what he knows so caretaker boss Kevin McDonald may well be in the van. The Scot has plenty of experience as a number two and knows the strengths and weaknesses of the players at Villa Park. His cause will be strengthened if Villa can continue their current run of form and, with Lerner intent on tightening purse strings, McDonald may be regarded as a cut-price option against the other names in the frame. He is a general 6/4 to be given the job on a full-time basis.

It’s probably fair to say that the form from Ascot’s Shergar Cup meeting doesn’t always work out elsewhere – but this year might be different! The totesport Ebor is one of the most competitive handicaps of the flat racing season but, this time around, hasn’t attracted the amount of ante-post money normally wagered on the race due to doubts over the participation of several fancied runners. Well the final declarations have been made so, from now on, you’ll get your money back if your selection doesn’t face the starter and I’m expecting a big run from Ascot winner Bernie The Bolt.

If his three-year-old campaign is any indicator then this is the time of year that Andrew Balding’s son of St Leger winner Milan begins to flourish. Out of a dam that also had stamina in abundance, Bernie The Bolt was always going to come into his own when tackling longer distances and that was certainly the case last autumn when he won a Lingfield maiden over 1m6f and a competitive handicap at Newmarket. Sandwiched in between was an excellent third in the Melrose Handicap over the same C&D as the Ebor so there are no fears over the track or trip or, indeed, the going as Bernie The Bolt has won on ground ranging from good to soft to good to firm. It was good to see the selection come back to winning ways at Ascot after an unlucky run behind Overturn (widely available at 7/1) in the Northumberland Plate at Newcastle when trapped against the rail throughout. A strict interpretation of that Ascot success over Woolfall Treasure gives him the beating of current Ebor favourite Martyr (a general 5/1) at the weights so the 20/1 against our fancy with skybet, boylesports and sportingbet looks much too big and, with a strong pace almost guaranteed, he should go close despite the 4lbs penalty.

Considering the impressive record of three-year-olds in the Ebor, it’s a surprise to see none of the classic generation have made the final cut so the pick of the remainder could be The Betchworth Kid, who has a touch of class and will be all the better for his run at Goodwood. His trainer targets this race on occasion and he can be backed at 25/1 with sportingbet while last year’s fourth Nanton is the same price in general and 2009 Cesarewitch winner Darley Sun is priced up at 20/1 by most layers, though he’d be one who wouldn’t want any further rain.

Fortuni (10/1 with William Hill) and general 12/1 chance Elyaadi are others to consider but Bernie The Bolt is fancied to hit the target.

• Bernie The Bolt to win the totesport Ebor at 20/1 with skybet, boylesports and sportingbet
• The Betchworth Kid (each way) in the totesport Ebor at 25/1 with sportingbet

SkyBet are one of the online bookmakers which constantly push some of the best prices for sports and football betting. SkyBet provides fantastic coverage on sports, and the feel of their website is that it is as vast and as comprehensive as their TV sports coverage. In fact, you can get your coverage of SkySports through their website and it is free to get once you become a SkyBet customer. Simply open a new account and Sky Sports customers can get their feeds through the website. That makes a fantastic partnership for Live In-Play betting, as having the live action right at hand on your computer screen, certainly enhances the experience. Live In-Play betting is of course, one of the main courses in the service of football betting, and SkyBet certainly delivers some great quality with the feature. With the start of the new 2010/11 football betting season just around the corner, you can find all that you need for your betting needs in one trusted place. When you have a nice welcome package in place for you when you open a new account with the online bookmaker. SkyBet offer a free £10 matched bet for new account holders, meaning that you can be ready to start your Barclays Premier League betting with SkyBet.

What do SkyBet have laid out for the new domestic season in England? With just a week to go until the Community Shield and around a fortnight to go until the league kick offs, the first place which can pull in your attention to have a punt, is the great Ante Post Specials football betting section on SkyBet. This is well worth a look as it goes beyond the regular betting on things such as the outright winner of the league. First of all there is a SkyBet Special on two of Europe’s big spenders at the moment. You can pick up a double on Manchester City and Real Madrid to win both of their league, which can be taken at a price of 14/1. Can money buy success? It could buy you success if you land that double with SkyBet. If you want to go bigger, then there is an attractive Five Fold football bet to look at, and that is Chelsea, Rangers, Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Marseille to all retain their respective league titles, and that monster bet will land you a hefty 40/1 but is it outside the realms of possibility? The Manchester Rules Europe Ante Post double football bet at SkyBet backs Man Utd and Manchester City to triumph in their European campaigns, United in the Champions League and City in the Europa League. That is also backable at SkyBet for 40/1.

But in terms of Barclays Premier League Betting, the opening day of the 2010/11 season throws up some fascinating matches. Both Chelsea and Manchester United entertain promoted opponents in West Brom and Newcastle respectively, but one of the big clashes sees the Tottenham v Man City clash, which are the two teams whoo were battling it out for a fourth place finish last season. Home side Tottenham are 5/4 to win that opening fixture, with big spending Manchester City priced at 15/8 to take the spoils. There is also the massive clash at Anfield on Sunday, August 15th between Liverpool and Arsenal, and all eyes will be on new Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson to see if he can get the Reds off to a good start. They are 11/8 at SkyBet to beat the Gunners, while Arsenal, more likely than not with Cesc Fabregas in tow, are 17/10 to win. Naturally you are not going to talk about the new season of the Barclays Premier League football betting without looking at the outright winner. SkyBet have Chelsea listed at 6/4 to retain their title, with Manchester United second favourite at 5/2. Roberto Mancini is splashing the cash this summer, and by that fact alone, Manchester City are third favourite at SkyBet to win the Premier League, priced at 11/2.

Some more Premier League Ante post betting odds to look at on SkyBet, is to look for a top four finish bet. This should be able to offer some decent prices, as there are genuinely more teams in the running than when looking at the outright winner. Liverpool for example are 13/8 at SkyBet to get back into the top four. Tottenham are 3/1 to repeat their efforts of last season, while Manchester City are 4/7 to break in there. Also in the hunt are Arsenal at 8/13 and looking down the list, are the likes of Aston Villa worth a look out at 7/1 at SkyBet? While preparing your football betting for the new season, you should take a look at the other end of the table of course, because you can find good prices on the relegation battle. Promoted teams often have a hard time surviving their first season in the Premier League, and surprise participants Blackpool are the favourites to go straight back down, priced at 2/7 at SkyBet. West Brom are 5/6 to get sent straight back to the Championship, with Wolves priced at 9/4 to get relegated. West Ham, who are being touted as strong relegation candidates are out at 5/1 to suffer heartbreak at the end of the season. Why not drop by some Transfer Specials at SkyBet as well? In this special market at SkyBet, you can find some of the Premier League’s, and the world’s top stars and odds on where they will be at the end of 2010 Summer Transfer Window. Fernando Torres for example is priced at 1/3 to join Chelsea before the new season, Germany’s Mesut Ozil is 2/7 to join Manchester United by the end of the summer transfer window, and West Ham’s Scott Parker is priced at 5/6 to join Tottenham.

For individual match betting at SkyBet, the list of submarket bets runs pretty deep, and you can plan your bets with the help of extensive stats. From being greeted on the home page with all of the latest live betting opportunities and highlights, to keeping you up to date by being able to bet with SkyBet on your mobile phone, SkyBet is packed with sports betting opportunities. There are plenty of features available on SkyBet to go well beyond football betting of course, as their sports betting book is pretty vast, and you can find special betting sections for big sports events. With SkyPoker, SkyVegas and SkyBingo to keep you entertained while you figure out your football betting strategy for the new season, SkyBet is an excellent online betting portal to take a look at. The site itself and the sports book are easily navigable and their coverage of horse racing is superb. If you are looking to get started and set up with a bookmaker for your football betting ahead of the new season, then SkyBet is well worth a look.

Beckham to return to England? Milner in Villa stalemate while Hughes to take charge at Fulham

Will David Beckham end up in the Premier League? He is wanted by London side West Ham, and the MLS LA Galaxy star is promising to give the club a decision soon according to reports, although conflicting reports say that he has not even been contacted by them. Beckham, who missed out on England’s 2010 FIFA World Cup campaign through an Achilles injury is expected to be back in training in late August with the galaxy. But there are rumours that Beckham would like to finish his career back in the UK. If he was to put pen to paper at Upton Park, then a move wouldn’t be secured until January. Beckham would finish the season with the MLS side, and then look to move abroad at the start of the year, as he has done on loan with AC Milan the past couple of season. West Ham boss Avram Grant is also supposedly targeting Michael Owen and Marseille’s Laurent Bonnart as well in order to boost their chances of not getting drawn into a relegation battle.  West Ham co-owner David Gold seems to be the one throwing fuel on this rumour, while a spokesman for Becks pretty much says its pie in the sky. For a club perceived as struggling, West Ham are certainly embroiled in plenty of rumours. They have rejected a large offer from Europe-bound Tottenham for midfielder Scott Parker, but there are hints that Spurs will be back with an improved offer. Tottenham are 5/6 at SkyBet to land Parker, while Liverpool are priced just behind them at 9/4 at SkyBet to snap him up. Tottenham also want Craig Bellamy from big spenders Manchester City. Something of a surprising favourite odds price is for Tottenham to be 9th or lower for 3/1 at SkyBet come Christmas. After a good season last year by finishing fourth, perhaps there are doubts of whether they can back it up.

Manchester City, who are being linked with just about every name which comes on the transfer market, looks set to have to won the battle for young Inter Milan striker Mario Balotelli. There have been an array of conflicting stories about the promising youngster and where his future may lie, but it looks as if City may just have gotten their man to add to their summer spending. Mark Hughes looks set to become Roy Hodgson’s successor at Fulham. After failing to land Martin Jol from Ajax, they have had to seek alternatives. That means that he would probably enter the race to sign Craig Bellamy, after managing him at Manchester City last year. Tottenham are still favourite to get him at a price of 4/9 at SkyBet, with Fulham to be his new club is priced 2/1 at SkyBet. Mark Hughes looks set to take the helm at Craven Cottage, but the same was said about Martin Jol recently. It’s unlikely that there will be any hiccups in this deal though as Hughes is currently unemployed, and it is expected that he will bring in his own backroom staff as well. What that means for coach and stand-in boss at the moment Ray Lewington, as he could find himself out of work. You may be able to grab a price on Hughes at BetFair, or one of the main rivals for the managerial position, but this looks to be a done deal. Meanwhile Bobby Zamora can be taken at a decent price of 11/10 at SkyBet to be Fulham’s top Goalscorer next season.

Both Chelsea and Manchester United have been told that they can have some money to spend in order to boost their squad. In the case of United, there are enough funds in the kitty to finance the move of one world class name apparently. For Chelsea, they are keen on finalising a deal for Benfica midfielder Ramires, and they could be in a three way battle with United and Arsenal for the services of impressive Ghana midfielder Anthony Annan. Chelsea’s Portuguese defender Ricardo Carvalho reportedly wants away from Stamford Bridge, but only to join up with former boss Jose Mourinho at Real Madrid.  As for Arsenal, who never really make big splashes and transfer headlines, they will be without the services of Danish striker Nicklas Bendtner for the start of the season, as the striker is still struggling with a groin injury. Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is still refusing to budge over the transfer sage surrounding Spain’s Cesc Fabregas. Fabregas is wanted by Barcelona, but Arsenal won’t even sit down at the negotiation table to discuss a deal. Barcelona are priced at 6/4 at SkyBet to land him, compared to around 10/21 at BetFair for him to stay a Gunner. Former Arsenal star Sol Campbell has signed for Premier League returnee’s Newcastle.

Liverpool want Stiliyan Petrov from Aston Villa, and this will be a replacement for the departing Javier Mascherano, who wants to join Rafa Benitez at Inter Milan. Mascherano is priced at 1/12 at SkyBet to join Inter Milan at the end of the summer transfer window. Liverpool have also come close to signing Aston Villa’s full back Luke Young, but the player seems to be throwing a spanner in the works by wanting compensation from Villa because he would be on less wages at Anfield. Surprisingly, in football betting, Tottenham are favourites to sign Young at 3/1 with SkyBet, while Liverpool are second favourites at a price of 7/2 at SkyBet, despite looking as if they nearly had his signature. Liverpool, who have began their quest for the Europa League, are priced at 10/1 with Paddy Power to have that European success in the forthcoming year. There have also been whispers that full back Wayne Bridge may be tempted way from Manchester City to join Roy Hodgson at Anfield, and he is priced at 4/6 with SkyBet for that to happen. Man City boss Roberto Mancini has said though that he doesn’t want Bridge to go anywhere.

Aston Villa boss Martin O’Neill seems to be stuck in a stalemate with England’s James Milner, who is keen to leave the Midlands club in order to head north for Manchester City. The main problem is that City don’t want to pay the sum of what Villa has Milner valued at, but Villa may have to bend if Milner does not want to be at the club any longer. Villa want a staggering £30 million for Milner (more than what Barcelona offered for Cesc Fabregas!), while City won’t budge above £24 million for the midfielder. Likely some compromise will be made, with O’Neill admitting himself that he doesn’t really know if Milner will still be at the club come the start of the season. James Milner is still priced at 1/6 at SkyBet to end up at Manchester City at the start of the new season. That’s compared to 17/12 at BetFair to stay at Villa. The online bookmakers posting football betting odds for the new season, don’t fancy Villa to make much progress from last season, and expect them to be 7th or lower in the league come Christmas at a price of 4/6 at SkyBet. Gaby Agbonlahor represents a decent punt at finishing as top Goalscorer for the club at a price of 6/4 at SkyBet.

With the start of the new Football League season just over two weeks away, it might be time to weigh up how the npower Championship might develop over the next nine months. Unlike recent seasons when the Premier League parachute payments have tilted factors heavily in favour of some relegated teams, this year’s promotion race looks like being fought out on a much more level playing field. Portsmouth and Hull City, two of the sides who dropped out of the top flight in May, both have massive financial problems and have been forced to jettison many of their big wage-earners simply to carry on trading. Bookmakers don’t rate their chances of an immediate return to the top flight as champions with Coral quoting Pompey at 28/1, while the Tigers are available at 22/1 with Bet365. Burnley, who also fell through the trap door, may be better equipped as they retain many of the squad that got them promotion in the first place, though many supporters are still not convinced manager Brian Laws is the right man for the job. The Clarets are only a best 11/1 with totesport, however. Middlesbrough manager Gordon Strachan’s policy of buying up the best of Scotland’s available talent seems a bit blinkered and their general 7/1 quote may well prove a little short, while Billy Davies is on record as saying Nottingham Forest’s squad is weaker than at this time last year so I’d be a bit wary of backing the Midlanders at 9/1 (Coral). Under Steve Coppell, Bristol City (20/1 with totesport, Victor Chandler and extrabet) might have a chance if they can hang on to Nicky Maynard but perhaps the market to simply win promotion is more appealing with Norwich City and Leeds United, both well-supported fallen giants trying to climb the ladder again, interesting at 7/1 (Bet365 and bwin) and 6/1 (Skybet) respectively – but how about a speculative wager on Doncaster? Written off in the last two seasons, layers continue to ignore Sean O’Driscoll’s team even though they secured a comfortable top-half finish in May and are generally recognised as one of the best footballing sides outside of the Premier League. The million-pound signing of striker Billy Sharp is a significant statement of intent for a club of Doncaster’s size but he should thrive on the ammunition supplied by a very talented midfield and if Rovers can keep the back door shut, they’ll win more than they lose this season. At 20/1 with Victor Chandler and Coral to gain promotion, Donny look a bit of value.

Oh dear! Somebody really ought to take that shovel off poor old Fabio Capello before he digs himself a hole that the FA are unable to pull him out of! In Italy, the more controversial the character, the more people appear to love them. Let’s face it, that’s how Silvio Belusconi came to be prime minister. But the culture in England is a little different, as are the press, and they rarely miss an opportunity to drag a man down nor kick him once he’s on the floor so if Capello thought he’d got away with England’s abject World Cup performances, think again! The much-maligned Capello Index, which Fabio presumed had been swept under carpet , reappeared this week to stamp another boot onto the Italian’s increasingly tenuous grip on the England manager’s job. The index gives a score out of a hundred to all the players attending the World Cup, naming a team of the tournament, etc but, more importantly, it was publicised with the belief that Capello would be revealing how he rated all of those playing under him in South Africa. Now if Fabio’s son Pierfilippo, who acts as his agent, is to be believed, Capello senior has already disassociated himself from the ppotential money-making project and certainly didn’t authorise its publication. However, the family have still been forced to issue an apology having assured the FA that England’s players would not be named and shamed and the new controversy has re-ignited the betting to succeed Capello when one side or the other decides enough is enough. Harry Redknapp, who has already declared an interest, remains Skybet’s 5/2 favourite, while England U21 manager Stuart Pearce is 4/1 with Skybet and Victor Chandler. The latter have introduced former incumbents Terry Venables and Steve McClaren at 20/1 and William Hill have included Glenn Hoddle at 25/1 to climb back into the hot seat but I don’t think even the FA could be sweet-talked into such a drastic course of action. Talking of England, Victor Chandler have a market on who will be in goal for their opening Euro 2012 qualifier against Bulgaria with young gun Joe Hart 11/8 to get the nod over old-timer David James (10/3) and the hapless Robert Green (9/2). Green fared particularly poorly in the Capello Index so I’d probably be wanting twice those odds if that is a reflection of how he’s rated by his manager!

The John Smith’s Cup is traditionally one of the flat season’s most competitive handicaps and nearly always the subject of several wholesale gambles. Invariably attracting a big field, this year’s renewal at York looks as competitive as ever and a number of horses have already been interesting punters. Most money so far has been for Imposing (5/1 with Coral). Sir Michael Stoute’s Danehill Dancer colt beat Indian Days, Tartan Gunna and Forti Dei Marmi (all due to line-up in opposition again this weekend) over C&D in May and followed that up with a close second in the Duke of Edinburgh Handicap at Royal Ascot over a longer trip so is clearly at the top of his game and, though climbing the handicap as a result, looks well drawn in stall seven and will be hard to keep out of the frame. Another to have attracted ante-post market support is the three-year-old Wigmore Hall. Now it’s not always a good policy to take Listed or stakes form too literally but there is no doubt that Michael Bell’s charge enjoyed little luck in running behind Afsare at Royal Ascot and useful apprentice Martin Lane takes off another 3lbs at York. At a general 6/1, he must be in with a shout while Distant Memories is proving tough and reliable. But, at the revised weights, the top weight, 16/1 with Stan James and Victor Chandler, is no certainty to beat Dream Lodge (a general 20/1) or Demoltion (16/1 with Stan James, Victor Chandler and Coral) third and fourth behind Tom Tate’s four-year-old over a slightly shorter trip at the track last month, or unlucky-in-running fifth Royal Destination. Jeremy Noseda’s older horses invariably improve for their first run of the season and that will almost certainly be the case with this son of Dubai Destination, who hit form around this time last year and won over C&D last August when Dream Lodge was fourth. Only 4lbs higher now, Royal Destination will need a bit of good fortune in a maximum field but undoubtedly has the form and ability to be a major contender and Skybet, Stan James and Paddy Power’s 16/1 may not last long.

• Royal Destination to win 51st John Smith’s Cup – 16/1 with Skybet, Stan James and Paddy Power

England’s frankly shambolic World Cup campaign in South Africa has the vultures circling around the head of coach Fabio Capello and bookmakers already have an active market surrounding his possible successor. It’s been a remarkable turnaround in fortune for the Italian. Regarded as one of the best club coaches in Europe, the Football Association looked to have finally made the right choice in Capello as he guided England through a tricky World Cup qualifying group with barely a hiccup. Rewarded with a new contract prior to the finals, it’s hard to understand how things went so badly wrong and so quickly. Poor individual performances and inflexible formations have been put forward as excuses but the fact of the matter was that the England team were made to look pedestrian and predictable by any half-decent team and the public is already demanding a scapegoat. Undoubtedly, some of the players who have been fixtures in the national team for many years will now be discarded – whether or not it’s Capello wielding the axe is another matter! The early front-runners to succeed Capello are Spurs‘ manager Harry Redknapp and Fulham’s Roy Hodgson. Skybet are offering Redknapp at 7/2, while Stan James and William Hill go with the same odds for Hodgson. Next in the betting is Aston Villa boss Martin O’Neill (10/1 with Victor Chandler, Stan James and William Hill) with current England U21 coach Stuart Pearce available at 14/1 with Paddy Power. Harry Redknapp is a charismatic figure but rarely far from controversy and may be viewed as a risky appointment at FA HQ. In comparison, Hodgson comes across as much more circumspect and, of course, already boasts bags of experience at international level. He did well with both Switzerland and Finland and has frequently sat on both UEFA and FIFA technical study groups. If Capello was to walk, he would be the logical choice.