Former Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew has been named the bookmaker's favourite to seal a return to English football with AFC Wimbledon. The League One outfit parted company with Mark Robinson by mutual consent on Monday following a fifth consecutive defeat.
Pardew is currently operating as technical director with Bulgarian side CSKA Sofia following his appointment in November 2020. However, the 60-year-old has been backed to make a managerial comeback in his native London at Plough Lane.
Following Robinson's departure, an AFC Wimbledon club statement read: “The club would like to place on record its gratitude to Mark for all his hard work, loyalty and commitment whilst in this role. There will be no further statement for the time being.”
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Pardew has not worked in England since leaving West Brom in 2018, and his last managerial post was a short-lived stint in the Netherlands with ADO Den Haag. The former Newcastle boss spent four years at St James' Park, guiding the club to a fifth-placed finish in the 2011/2012 season.
Danny Cowley, Luke Gerrard, Emma Hayes, and Steven Reid are also considered among the frontrunners to take charge at AFC Wimbledon, who currently sit in the relegation zone. However, Pardew is currently listed as the favourite with bookmakers offering odds as short as 3/1 on his appointment according to Oddschecker.
