O'Neill and Strachan are early favourites

Sam Allardyce, Iain Dowie and Gordon Strachan are believed to be the other
three in the frame, but O’Neill, who played for City in the 1981-2 season, is 
thought to be the number one target to succeed Kevin Keegan.






 
Online bookmakers, bet365, make Strachan the early favourite though at 5/2, 
with O’Neill at 8/1.


 
They also make City coach Stuart Pearce one of the front runners for the job, 
while they offer a cheeky 100/1 price on United boss Alex Ferguson making 
an unlikely switch, and 33/1 on Peter Reid or Joe Royle having another stint 
in the City hotseat.


 
Steve Freeth, a spokesman for bet365, said: “I wouldn’t be surprised to see 
Keegan go at the end of this season, never mind next.

 
“Squad members have already started to question if Keegan will be at
Eastlands next season and how many times have we seen players down tools 
once a manager announces he’s leaving?


 
“Martin O’Neill would be a cracking appointment, but would he trade in 
winning things at Celtic to come to City?”

Next Permanent Man City Manager:

Gordon Strachan                      5/2
Stuart Pearce                          7/2
Sam Allardyce                         11/2
Martin O’Neill                           8
Iain Dowie                               8
Paul Jewell                              12
Glenn Hoddle                           12
Gerard Houllier                        16
Neil Warnock                           16
Alan Curbishley                       16
Steve Bruce                            20
Gary Megson                           20
Harry Redknapp                       20
Peter Reid                               33
Joe Royle                                33
Sven Goran Eriksson                40
Alex Ferguson                         100