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Former Coventry City boss Mark Robins amongst early running for fresh Championship vacancy
Mark Robins is being touted to become Oxford United’s new boss. The former Coventry City manager is one of the early front runners for the vacant position at the Championship rivals, after Des Buckingham was sacked at the weekend.
And both Crystal Palace coach Paddy McCarthy and former Birmingham City and Derby County boss Gary Rowett are claimed to be in the running for the vacant U’s position.
Former Sky Blues boss Robins made it clear shortly after he was sacked by Doug King last month that he was keen to get back into the game and, not surprisingly, his name gets mentioned every time a second tier vacancy comes up, having already been linked with Hull – who opted for Ruben Selles – and last week Millwall, following the announced departure of Neil Harris after the Lions’ 1-0 defeat to the Sky Blues at The Den.
However, the ambition of his next club and location are likely to be key factors in Robins’ next move, with the 54-year-old keen to achieve promotion and test himself in the Premier League – something he always wanted to achieve at Coventry.
The trio are the early pacesetters with the bookies, after Buckingham fell on his sword on Sunday following a 3-1 weekend defeat against Sheffield Wednesday.
The result made it seven games without a win for the U’s and just one success in 15, as they tumble down the Championship table.
Rowett broke clear of the rest of the pack this morning in the betting, becoming clear 2/1 favourite with oddsmakers Betano - shortening to 4/5 at the time of publishing.
The 50-year-old has been out of management, since leaving an interim position with Blues at the end of last position. Rowett took on pundit duties with Sky Sports for Pompey’s 4-0 defeat at Derby on Friday night.
Market movement this morning saw him become clear favourite with Robins and McCarthy at the head of the pack previously. They are now both joint second favourites for the Oxford post at 3/1.
Former Plymouth and Stoke boss Steven Schumacher is next on the betting list at 6/1, with there a significant drop to former Leicester boss Steve Cooper, who is fourth favourite at 14/1.
You can also get odds of 14/1 for Ryan Lowe to succeed Buckingham with John Terry and Alex Neil 16/1 and Wycombe boss Matt Bloomfield 20/1, after enjoying a successful season with the surprise League One leaders.
Former Pompey boss Michael Appleton is 33/1 for an Oxford return with ex-Blues midfielder Gary O’Neil 33/1 after being sacked by Wolves.
