May 27th 2024.
There has been a lot of buzz lately about Kieran McKenna, with both Manchester United and Brighton being linked to the talented manager. But what's the connection between Leicester, Ipswich, and Southampton? Apart from all being promoted from the Championship, that is.
It's no secret that these three teams are the top contenders to be relegated back to the second tier next season. But what's even more worrying for their fans right now is the potential need to find a new manager before the start of the next season. It seems that Enzo Maresca, the current manager of Leicester, is on Chelsea's shortlist to replace Mauricio Pochettino. Meanwhile, Manchester United has their sights set on Ipswich's Kieran McKenna, who has previously worked as a coach at Old Trafford. And Southampton's manager, Russell Martin, could potentially make a move to Brighton to replace Roberto De Zerbi.
But the question on everyone's minds is, will all three of these clubs go straight back down to the Championship? We've seen it happen before at the end of this season, with Sheffield United, Burnley, and Luton all being relegated immediately. But that was a rare occurrence. In fact, it's only happened one other time since the Premier League began in 1992, in the 1997/98 season with Barnsley, Bolton, and Crystal Palace.
On the other hand, there have been instances where promoted clubs have managed to stay in the Premier League, with the most recent being Fulham, Nottingham Forest, and Bournemouth in the 2022/23 season. But the odds are not in their favor, with Leicester being the clear favorite at 2/1 to be relegated. This is not surprising, as they may face a points deduction for breaking financial rules. Ipswich, who were playing in League One just two seasons ago, are also at risk with odds of 10/11 to go down.
Southampton, who were promoted through the Championship play-off final, may offer the best value for an immediate return to the Championship. They finished at the bottom of the Premier League with only 25 points two years ago, and it will take a lot of strategic spending to avoid relegation once again. They are currently at 7/4 to be relegated, the same odds that Everton has despite having a stronger squad.
In other news, last year's Derby winner Auguste Rodin has had a bit of a rollercoaster season. After winning the Epsom Classic, the Irish Derby, and the Irish Champion Stakes, he disappointed in the 2,000 Guineas and the King George. However, he seems to be back in form after finishing second at the Curragh last weekend. He may continue his progress in the right direction at the Coronation Cup at Epsom on Friday. At 20/1, he's definitely worth an each-way bet.
As for tennis, Novak Djokovic has yet to reach a final this year and is not expected to successfully defend his French Open title. However, he is still the clear favorite in his first-round match against world No.143 Pierre-Hughes Herbert, who is known more for his doubles skills. Djokovic is expected to win by more than 9.5 games, with odds of 21/20 at William Hill. In addition, Alex De Minaur is favored to beat Alex Michelson in straight sets, with odds of 7/10 at the same firm.
It seems that Chelsea is also making progress in their search for a new manager, with rumors of a deal being finalized soon. Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story.
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