Latics odds-on for a flying start

ATHLETIC begin their Coca-Cola League One campaign on Saturday with a home game against a team odds-on to be relegated.

Stockport are the visitors to Boundary Park and, after going into administration in April, begin the new season shorn of the vast majority of players who donned the Hatters shirt in the 2008/09 season.

Gary Ablett has succeeded Jim Gannon as manager at Edgeley Park and faces a huge task with both financial hands tied behind his back.

It is no surprise, then, that the bookies have virtually written off Stockport, who are 150-1 to win the title and 4-5 to be relegated.

Athletic are expected to finish in mid-table and are quoted at 33-1 to win the title, 10-1 for promotion and 9-1 to be relegated.

The Latics really ought to make a winning start to the season despite their recent defensive frailties and are 5-6 to do so, with the draw rated a 5-2 shot and Stockport at 7-2.

Not surprisingly, Leeds are favourites to win the title at 7-2 and their star striker Jermaine Beckford is, predictably, the 15-2 market leader to top the scoring charts.

The only Athletic player quoted in this market is new signing Keigan Parker at 50-1.

The Coca-Cola Championship also gets under way this weekend with last year’s Premier League teams West Brom, Newcastle and Middlesbrough dominating the betting.

The first two are 6-1 joint favourites to win the title, while Boro can be backed at 7-1.

Notts County are embarking on a new era under recently-appointed director of football Sven-Goran Eriksson, who reliably informs us that he is not in it for the money despite being paid £2m a year.

Obviously, funds are not a problem at Meadow Lane so the Magpies are worthy favourites to win the League Two title at 6-1 and ex-Athletic striker Lee Hughes could well justify odds of 8-1 to be the division’s top goalscorer. He looks a different class to the rest at this level.

o AUSTRALIA fought their way out of a hole in the third Test at Edgbaston but, 1-0 down with two matches to play, have been pushed out to 11-2 to win the series.

England are 5-6 to triumph, with a drawn series rated a 9-4 shot.

The crucial fourth Test begins at Headingley on Friday and an indifferent weather forecast — nothing new there, then — has promoted the bookies to install the draw as the 13-10 favourite.

Australia, for whom Brett Lee is being tipped to replace Peter Siddle, are quoted at 2-1, with England at 100-30.

England have dominated the last two Tests yet are a bigger price than their rivals.

As I said last week, this makes no sense, but if the weathermen are correct, then a draw seems likely.

With Andrew Flintoff’s fitness still a worry and Stuart Broad’s place in jeopardy, there is a chance Steve Harmison could earn a recall and the big Durham quickie is only 7-2 to be top England bowler.

I think England will stick with the side they have — injuries permitting — and on a ground which favours swing and seam, Jimmy Anderson is a very fair price at 2-1.



TIGER Woods bounced back to winning form in the Buick Open last weekend and has been cut to 5-2 to win the final major of the season, the USPGA Championship, at Hazeltine Golf Club, Minnesota, next week.

I have had a few quid each-way at 40s on Retief Goosen, who shapes like a player returning to his best and can still be backed at 35-1 with Bet365.


RECOMMENDATIONS: Lee Hughes to be top goal scorer in League Two, 8-1 (Stan James); Jimmy Anderson to be top England bowler in fourth Test, 2-1 (general); Retief Goosen, each-way, USPGA Championship, 35-1 (Bet365).