Bristol Rovers manager Joey Barton has been named among the favourites by bookmakers to take over at Stoke City following the dismissal of Michael O’Neill on Thursday.
O’Neill has been sacked after the Potters poor start to the campaign with just one win from their opening six games in league and cup, which followed on from a disappointing 2021/22 season. His No2 Dean Holden has been placed in interim charge with Stoke travelling to Blackburn Rovers on Saturday.
Barton has leapt up the betting to second behind Burnley manager Sean Dyche, with the Rover boss priced at 5/2 by SkyBet, just ahead of Middlesbrough’s Chris Wilder - who has fallen from 50/1 to 5/1 - and Mark Robins of Coventry City.
It’s not the first time Barton has appeared high up in the betting for a prime Championship job as the 39-year-old has previously been named in the markets for the former vacancies at Preston North End and Burnley, but on both occasions there was no evidence of any genuine interest from either club.
Barton signed a new four-year contract this summer, extending his agreement at the Mem until 2026 having led the Gas back into League One and maintains a strong relationship with owner Wael Al-Qadi and CEO Tom Gorringe.
Rovers have made a solid start to life back in the third tier with two wins and three defeats from their opening five fixtures, while Wael Al-Qadi’s faith in his manager has been further evidenced by the transfer funds allocated for the purchases of Jordan Rossiter, James Connolly and Luke McCormick, which has exceeded £300,000 and with Barton keen to further add to his squad before next Thursday’s deadline.
Earlier this month Barton was declaring it was his ambition to get Rovers into the Premier League ahead of rivals Bristol City.
Rovers host Shrewsbury Town in League One on Saturday the Mem. Barton is not expected to hold his traditional pre-match press conference at The Quarters on Thursday due to his wife Georgia giving birth to their fourth child, rather than any football-related decision.
Stoke Live report that chairman Peter Coates is planning for a quick succession to O’Neill with an appointment made as quickly as possible, preferably before the transfer window closes.
Next Stoke manager odds*
- Sean Dyche - 6/4
- Joey Barton - 5/2
- Chris Wilder - 5/1
- Mark Robins - 7/1
- Dean Holden - 14/1
- Duncan Ferguson - 16/1
- Gareth Ainsworth - 16/1
- Michael Carrick - 16/1
- John Terry - 18/1
- Liam Manning - 18/1
*via SkyBet; odds correct at the time of publishing
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