FORMER Birmingham City boss John Eustace is the early bookmakers' favourite to replace Tony Mowbray as head coach of Sunderland.

Mowbray was sacked late last night with the Black Cats sitting in ninth position, three points adrift of the Championship play-off places.

First-team coach Mike Dodds has been placed in temporary charge at the Stadium of Light, with Sunderland returning to action on Saturday when they host West Brom.

He is unlikely to be considered for a permanent position though, and the bookies currently make Eustace a 5-1 favourite to be installed on Wearside.

The former Birmingham boss was regarded to be doing an extremely good job at St Andrew's before he was controversially moved aside to make way for Wayne Rooney earlier this season.

Other names to feature close to the top of the current betting markets are current Plymouth boss Steven Schumacher, ex-Southampton and Luton manager Nathan Jones, ex-Chelsea and Everton boss Frank Lampard and Paul Heckingbottom, who is expected to lose his job at Sheffield United imminently.

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Oddschecker’s Leon Blackman said: “Following the sacking of Tony Mowbray last night, bookmakers have had their say on who could replace him as the new Sunderland boss.

"The betting market is currently wide open however, with John Eustace and Steven Schumacher favourites at 6-1. At this early stage, it seems that no real rumours are swirling around a potential replacement as there are favourites with such high odds.

"This betting market will be one to watch over the coming hours and days to see what intel the bookies get on a replacement for the Mackems.”


Odds to be next Sunderland manager (as compiled by Oddschecker):

John Eustace 5-1

Steven Schumacher 6-1

Nathan Jones, Kevin Muscat 8-1

Frank Lampard, Paul Heckingbottom 10-1

Lee Carsley, Mike Dodds, Dean Smith 12-1

Graham Potter 16-1