More names in the frame to replace Roeder

Last updated : 14 January 2009 By Rick Lamb
Current favourite for the Norwich job, as predicted by NorwichCityMad, is Aidy Boothroyd, the former Watford manager and ex-Norwich City Academy coach.

Predictably, Boothroyd, at 5/4 with Sky Bet, is joined by Paul Ince, at 5/1, Paul Jewell, Iain Dowie, Malky Mackay and Alan Pardew at 10/1. Steve Cotterill, formerly of Burnley, and ex-QPR, Leicester and Plymouth boss Ian Holloway are also at 10/1.

Holloway was a name I missed off the earlier list. I'm undecided on him, having previously really rated him but then been unimpressed by his tenure at Leicester when, in similar circumstances to Norwich's current predicament, he took an expensively-assembled squad down.

Another name I overlooked, and about which I'm unsure, is Mark Robins. Robins has a special place in my heart but was fairly shabbily discarded by Norwich. He is doing well with a Rotherham side hampered by a massive points deduction and a precarious financial state. Like Paul Ince at Blackburn, however, it could be too soon to make the step up.

The usual suspects of David O'Leary, Glenn Hoddle, Bryan Robson and Graeme Souness are all quoted by Sky Bet at between 20/1 and 33/1. I wouldn't take any of them.

Also at the far end of the market are Alan Curbishley at a very lengthy 50/1, given that he will be considered, and Roy Keane at 33/1. I would love to see Keane take on Norwich on some levels, but I don't get the impression he needs to be a manager, and his record for walking away from things is unparalleled.

I'd still put Boothroyd at the top of the list, and believe a quick appointment is going to be key in terms of allowing the new man time to make changes before the end of the transfer window on February 3rd.