No sooner had the official statement been read than the bookmakers leapt into action. Hastily cutting and pasting the names of Sven-Goran Eriksson, Alan Curbishley and Claudio Ranieri from past market lists, the layers consigned Alan Pardew to history and swiftly posted their odds for the next manager of West Ham.
Curbishley, out of management since his departure from Charlton at the end of last season, leads the way at 4-6. Bet Direct were quick to make him their 2-1 favourite when news of Pardew's sacking emerged, but within 25 minutes the market was suspended with punters having bitten their hands off. "We have been inundated with requests for Alan Curbishley and have slashed him from 2s through 7-4 and all rates down to 1-2 as Athole Still has all but ruled Sven-Goran Eriksson out of the job," the firm's spokesman, Charlie McCann, was reported as saying. "Punters believe it to be a one-horse race."
That hasn't stopped the firms from pricing up all kinds of names in the market, mind. Coral rate Eriksson as their 5-1 second favourite, while naming Terry Venables (8-1), Portugal national coach Luiz Felipe Scolari (33s) and Trevor Brooking (66s) as others in with a chance.
But who do you think should be the man to succeed Pardew and attempt to halt their slide into the Premiership relegation zone?
Latest odds (Coral): Alan Curbishley 4-6; Sven-Goran Eriksson 5-1; Terry Venables 8-1; Iain Dowie 10-1; Paul Jewell 12-1; Luiz Felipe Scolari, Ruud Gullit, Claudio Ranieri, Kevin Keen 33-1; George Graham, Glenn Hoddle, David O'Leary, Kevin Keegan, Graeme Souness 50-1.
