Charlton Athletic are looking for a new manager after sacking Michael Appleton this week following a 12-game winless run that has seen the team drop to 16^th in League One, just four points above the relegation zone. The best football betting sites have already priced up the betting market for the job, with former Barnsley and Swansea manager Michael Duff the initial favourite.

Betting apps also see former Bristol City and Sunderland boss Lee Johnson, and ex-Birmingham John Eustace as potential candidates that the owners will want to speak to. The market will be moving at pace over the coming days, and we will have the latest odds and analysis on the contenders to take on the job with the former Premier League team throughout.

Early money in the market saw Nigel Pearson and Nathan Jones emerge as joint favourites for the job, with Scott Parker drifting out to 16/1. However, it is the former Luton Town and Southampton boss Jones who is the favourite. However, the odds have shortened dramatically on Gary Rowett's chances of taking the job overnight, while Neil Warnock and John Eustace have continued to shorten in the last couple of days, with Mark Warburton also mentioned in dispatches.

Jones Ready to Return to Management

Nathan Jones was a hot managerial name after doing a tremendous job with Luton Town, bringing them in contention for a Premier League spot. He left for the Southampton job in November 2022 but only lasted 94 days. He has since not been in management but could be a big-name appointment for a team struggling to stay in the third tier of the Football League.

His odds with most football betting sites suggest there is some mutual interest in him taking the job, and fans will want to rally behind the appointment to keep them afloat if he is indeed the choice. 

Michael Duff Has Had Success in League One Before

Michael Duff is in the relatively early days of his managerial career, but he has had spells with Cheltenham, Barnsley and Swansea since hanging up his playing boots with Burnley. Duff was a huge success with Cheltenham, taking them from the bottom reaches of League Two into League One and their highest-ever league finish in 2022. He then left for Barnsley and took them to the League One playoff final, only to lose to Sheffield Wednesday.

Because of this success, he was then poached by Championship club Swansea at the start of this season. However, his Midas touch didn’t continue with the Swans, and he was sacked in December. However, he knows League One inside out and could be a popular pick by the club’s hierarchy. His early favouritism for the role with betting sites suggests he could at least get an interview.

Quick League One Return for Lee Johnson?

Lee Johnson has cut his teeth in the Football League for most of his managerial career and could be seen as a safe pair of hands for the club as they look to stave off a potentially disastrous relegation to League Two. Johnson was most recently in charge of Fleetwood Town in League One, but he never seemed to fit in with the team and was relieved of his duties after four months at the end of December.

Johnson has previously had more successful stints in charge of Bristol City and Sunderland. His name being at the top of the market for most new betting sites suggests he could be someone to watch for the role.

John Eustace Ready to Return to Management?

John Eustace did a phenomenal job with Birmingham City in the Championship, guiding them to their highest finish in the second tier of the UK since 2016 last season. He then had the Blues in sixth place after 11 games of the season gone before he was sacked by the new owners for someone more aligned with their football philosophies.

The fact that his replacement Wayne Rooney only lasted 15 games, winning two of them, has only enhanced Eustace’s record. Would he be willing to jump down to League One for his next opportunity? If he is, you would think Charlton would be very interested in talking to him.