Latics 10-1 to go up after Royle return

DIEHARD Athletic fans and shrewd punters alike will have been scouring the League One promotion markets following the return to Boundary Park of Latics legend Joe Royle.

Out of the top six for the first time in ages, Athletic have drifted to 10-1 for promotion, which suddenly looks a mighty tempting price now that the club’s biggest hero is back at the helm.

Of course Joe can’t wave a magic wand, but he has experience at the highest level, will have the fans behind him and is sure to galvanise a set of players possessing undoubted talent but - in a few cases - suspect attitudes.

I will be backing Joe to take Latics up - and I suggest you follow suit.

For those of a more circumspect nature, Athletic can be backed at 15-8 to reach the promotion play-offs. That, too, is a price well worth taking.


LIVERPOOL’S shock 4-1 demolition of Manchester United has revived a Premier League promotion race which had looked to be as good as over.

Although United remain 1-6 favourites to retain their title, they had been as short as 1-16 before Saturday’s reverse.

Chelsea are 10-1 second favourites, with Liverpool next at 11s.


ENGLAND’S beleaguered cricketers take on the West Indies in the first of five one-day internationals in Guyana on Friday (1.30pmGMT), with skipper Andrew Strauss desperate to turn things round after defeats in the Test series and Sunday’s Twenty20 international.

This has been an awful winter for England, but much of their troubles have been of their own making with the Pietersen-Moores farce and IPL distractions.

Add on the hastily-arranged series in India following the Mumbai atrocities and it’s no wonder they have lost the focus needed to succeed at this level.

However, with the Ashes looming, England simply have to get their act together - and quickly.

They are evens to win the one-day series against the Windies, with the hosts slight favourites at 10-11.

I just prefer the Windies, who seem to have the more settled one-day side, and expect them to win the first game of the series at the same odds on Friday.


IRELAND have one hand on rugby union’s Six Nations Trophy following four straight victories, but on Saturday they face their biggest test when they take on Wales in Cardiff.
As long as they avoid a heavy defeat, Ireland will be crowned champions and justify this column’s selection at 7-2.

Ireland will be going flat out to land the Grand Slam and are 5-4 to do so. Wales are 4-5 to shade this closely-matched contest.


STAYING on the rugby theme, Oldham Roughyeds kicked off their Co-Operative Championship One campaign with victory over Blackpool on Sunday and the bookies make them 7-4 joint-favourites with Dewsbury to be top of the pile come the end of the season.

York are next-best at 13-2, and it’s 10-1 bar the three.

PHIL Mickelson has been cut to 7-1 to land next month’s US Masters title after winning the latest World Cup event in Miami at the weekend.

Despite obvious rustiness following his long injury-enforced lay-off, Tiger Woods is the 11-4 favourite to triumph at one of his favourite stamping grounds, while Padraig Harrington - winner of the last two Majors - is 18-1 to make it a hat-trick.

Sergio Garcia (20-1) and consistent Aussie Greg Ogilvy (22-1) are next in the betting, while sharing joint-sixth favouritism at 33-1 is Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy - not bad for a 19-year-old.


RECOMMENDATIONS: Athletic to win promotion from League One, 10-1 (Totesport, Boylesports, Paddy Power); Athletic to reach play-offs, 15-8 (Bet365).