FORMER Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has been installed as the new odds-on favourite to become the next manager of Celtic.
Current boss Ronny Deila will leave the club at the end of the season and many high profile names have been linked with the impending vacancy, namely David Moyes, Roy Keane and Martin O’Neill.
However, Antrim native Rodgers – whose father was a Celtic fan – has emerged as the current frontrunner after an alarming run of bets on the 43-year-old to take over this summer.
Five leading bookmakers - Paddy Power Bet365, Ladbrokes, William Hill and Sky Bet - have now made Rodgers odds-on to take up the position.
"The money for Rodgers looks significant and if it continues, our current price will have to be cut again," said Sky Bet's Sandro Di Michele.
"We are approaching that time of year when our various manager and transfer markets grab a lot of attention and this is the first serious gamble of what's sure to be a very busy summer.
"Should Rodgers take over, I'm sure we'll also see interest in a number of his former players moving north of the border."
Rodgers has been out of work since being dismissed by Liverpool earlier this season, though he has also been linked with a return to his old club Swansea, who are without a permanent manager.
After guiding Liverpool to a second-place finish in the Premier League in 2013-14, he was awarded the LMA Manager of The Year Award that season - the first Anfield manager to win the prestigious accolade.