The latest on Leicester City’s next manager hunt as ex-Wolves and Sheffield United bosses are interviewed.
Former Wolverhampton Wanderers head coach Gary O’Neil is now among the front-runners to be named the new Leicester City manager.
The Foxes have been searching for a successor to Ruud van Nistelrooy since the Manchester United legend left by mutual consent on June 27. Leicester took a while to reach a decision over Van Nistelrooy’s future following their relegation to the Championship but eventually reached the conclusion that it was best to move on without him.
Leicester have so far been patient in their approach to hiring Van Nistelrooy’s replacement but won’t want to take too much longer as pre-season will soon be well underway. Supporters will be relieved to hear that the wheels are now in motion over an appointment, though the identities of those potentially in line may split opinion.
Leicester interview ex-Wolves and Sheffield United managers
The Telegraph’s John Percy reports Leicester are moving closer to appointing a new head coach and have spoken to O’Neil, though former Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder has also had conversations. Both O’Neil and Wilder are said to have been shortlisted by the Foxes after interviews were held in London last week.
It’s not just a straight shootout between O’Neil and Wilder, however, as other unnamed candidates are also being spoken to. Leicester, hurried by the new season moving closer as the days tick past, are hopeful of completing an appointment by the end of this week.
Who are the current favourites to become the next Leicester manager?
As you’d expect given they’ve been interviewed, O’Neil and Wilder are the favourites to be the Foxes’ next boss as things stand. Both are currently unemployed and are ready to return to work following their exits from Wolves and Sheffield United in December and June respectively.
Danny Rohl, expected to leave Sheffield Wednesday due to an ongoing financial crisis, is reportedly out of the frame to take over at the King Power Stadium but is still on the bookies’ list. The same can be said for former Everton and Burnley boss Sean Dyche, while the likes of Lee Carsley and Michael Carrick aren’t far behind.
Gary O’Neil - 4/7
Chris Wilder - 10/3
Danny Rohl - 11/2
Sean Dyche - 6/1
Lee Carsley - 17/2
Andy King - 17/2
Michael Carrick - 14/1
Liam Rosenior - 14/1
Ralph Hassenhuttl - 18/1
Edin Terzic - 18/1
David Wagner - 25/1
Johannes Hoff Thorup - 28/1
Steven Gerrard - 28/1
Chris Hughton - 40/1
Luke Williams - 40/1
Gareth Southgate - 50/1
Wayne Rooney - 50/1
Sam Allardyce - 50/1
Huge job ahead for next Leicester boss
Whoever does take the reins in the King Power dugout has a massive job ahead of them as Leicester will be targeting an immediate return to the Premier League. The Championship is set to be more than competitive than ever with fellow relegated sides Ipswich Town and Southampton aiming high along with the Foxes.
There are a host of other ambitious clubs in the hunt for promotion, too, with Coventry City, Sheffield United and Bristol City eager to get back into the play-offs. Birmingham City are bound to be in the picture, too, with Chris Davies’ Blues targeting an ambitious second successive rise up the divisions.
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