Stoke City sack Nathan Jones: betting reaction, odds and analysis

Preston boss Alex Neil has been backed into 5-4 favouritism to be the next Stoke City manager after the club dismissed Nathan Jones just nine months after appointing him.

Jones won only six of his 38 matches in charge of the Potters, who lost 2-0 to Millwall on Saturday and are 9-2 for relegation from the Sky Bet Championship.

Neil, who is odds-on in places, has jumped to the head of the market after Michael O'Neill and Chris Hughton had been seen as the early favourites.

O'Neill is out to 5-1, Hughton can be backed at 15-2 with Tony Pulis 9-1 to return to to take charge of the side he managed between 2006 and 2013.

Stoke host highflyers West Brom in their next game on Monday night and they are a best-priced 16-1 to finish bottom in England's second tier.

Stoke would have wanted to give progressive Jones more time

The cut-throat nature of the Sky Bet Championship means good coaches are often axed before they have the chance to make an impact.

Jones was one of the most exciting innovators in the EFL during his time at Luton Town, encouraging a fast-paced, attacking brand of football and his appointment was met with optimism.

The summer was supposed to offer the chance of a fresh start but the widespread changes in playing staff made it tough for him to hit the ground running.

His reputation as a young, progressive manager probably bought him more time than he might have otherwise got, but no club in the division have used more players than Stoke's 26 this term and Jones appeared increasingly uncertain of his best starting 11.

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