Mike Norman / 07 July 2010 Free Bet View Market

"His remarkable achievements with unfashionable club Charlton Athletic prior to his West Ham stint single out Alan Curbishley as a manager of great ability, and one that will be very much at home if left to his own devices at the Cottage."

Approximately four weeks ago I predicted that Roy Hodgson was the man most likely to follow in the footsteps of Rafa Benitez by becoming the Next Liverpool Manager. Thankfully I called that one right, but Hodgson's appointment at Anfield has left a vacancy at his former club Fulham, and it's fair to say I'm somewhat less confident about predicting who will get this particular job.

There's certainly no shortage of candidates queuing up to take over a club that has made giant strides in recent seasons, but I've narrowed it down to just four men who realistically stand a chance of being appointed.

It's no surprise to see Sven Goran Eriksson heading the Next Fulham Manager market at [3.4]; it's even less surprising to read that Eriksson has declared an interest in taking over at Craven Cottage.

It begs the questions, is there any job that this man won't consider? No disrespect to Fulham, it's a great football club, but our enigmatic Swede appears to throw his hat in the ring whenever a job is available. Since his departure from Manchester City in 2008 he's held down positions at Mexico, Notts County and Ivory Coast as well as publicly declaring an interest in other high profile jobs, including the Liverpool vacancy just recently.

Eriksson is of course well equipped to do the job. His major tournament achievements with England (three quarter finals) read a little better now in light of recent events, and his record at Man City (before they were rich) is non too shabby either. But I have my reservations about Sven, so without having the benefit of any inside knowledge I have a hunch that Fulham will look elsewhere.

Lee Clark ([5.7]) has been mentioned in some quarters for the vacancy and continues to attract support in this particular market (he's been matched at all rates down from [70.0]).

I'm all for seeing young English managers given a chance at the highest level but I can't help but feel that the job has come a little too soon for the 37-year-old former Cottagers midfielder.

Clark cut his teeth as a coach/assistant to Glen Roeder at both Newcastle and Norwich before taking the hot seat at Huddersfield Town in December 2008. He appears to be a very intelligent and calm manager for one so inexperienced and I have no doubt that he will make the 'step-up' before too long. But the fact that he has committed his future to Huddersfield in recent days suggests he is staying put, which makes his current short odds rather surprising.

Ex Fulham manager Kevin Keegan is available to back at [60.0] and that wouldn't be the worst price in the world if we had any indication that he wishes to return to club management, but the two men most likely to be top of Mohamed Al-Fayed's shortlist are Alan Curbishley ([3.9]) and Mark Hughes ([7.6]).

Curbishley has been out of management for almost two years after resigning from West Ham because of the way players were being sold without his permission. He saved the Hammers from almost certain relegation (winning seven of their last nine games) when first joining the club before guiding them to a top ten finish the season after. His remarkable achievements with unfashionable club Charlton Athletic prior to his West Ham stint single out Curbishley as a manager of great ability, and one that will be very much at home if left to his own devices at the Cottage.

As I've previously mentioned elsewhere, Hughes is a manager who has gained many admirers during his spells as the Wales, Blackburn and Man City boss, and just like Eriksson and Curbishley he is more than capable of doing the job.

But I have a theory, and it's that Al-Fayed, a man who has made hay in London and calls Britain his home, would love nothing more than to appoint a true Londoner to manage his football club. Curbishley fits the bill in ever sense as far as I can see, in fact, it could be a match made in heaven.

Recommended Bet

Back Alan Curbishley @ [3.9]