Strachan the man for Scotland, say bookies

Sports betting: I HAD to chuckle this week when someone on Twitter commented that Paul Dickov had ruled himself out of the running for the job of Scotland manager.

Don’t get me wrong, I think the Latics boss is a promising manager, but I think even the confident Dickov would be the first to admit he was never anywhere near the national team job. And, in any case, he says he is happy where he is.

One man who is likely to be appointed, however, is the colourful Gordon Strachan, who has had more clubs than Tiger Woods but remains one of the most refreshing personalities in the game.

Gordon doesn’t believe in manager speak: here is a man with a dry wit and cutting tone when it is needed.

Interviews with Our Gord are never boring: for that reason alone I hope he justifies the bookmakers’ odds of 4-9.

I can’t wait to hear him explain how the hapless Scots come to lose another game at the hands of such footballing giants as Wales.

This post seems to be a done deal as Alex McLeish and Owen Coyle, who were surplus to requirements in their last jobs, are 16-1 joint second favourites to be appointed.



IT may be me, but there is something irritating about Strictly Come Dancing contender Louis Smith.

Maybe he is just too cocksure of himself, but whatever it may be, he remains the red-hot favourite to lift the glitter ball at 5-4.

Denise van Outen (3-1) and Kimberley Walsh (5-1) also have strong claims, but Richard Arnold most

certainly has not and it is no surprise he is 2-1 favourite to be evicted this weekend.

As for the X Factor, Ella Henderson is on the slide.

After being odds-on to win the whole shebang last month, she is now out to 6-4 as support continues to gather for Jahmene Douglas.

James Arthur is 11-2, then it’s 25-1 Union J and 33-1 that guy with a really imaginative stage name, Christopher Maloney.



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