By Mark Heys
January 24 2006

Bolton chief Sam Allardyce is the favourite to become the next England national coach once current boss Sven Goran Eriksson departs after this summers World Cup. Allardyce has been in charge at the Reebok Stadium since October 1999 and has gained national acclaim for turning Bolton Wanderers into a force to be reckoned with in the Premiership.

Bookmakers and media alike have been impressed by this achievement and are now pushing for Big Sam to be installed as Eriksson's successor once the tournament in Germany is complete.

Charlton's Alan Curbishley, Eriksson's head coach Steve McClaren are also in the running as is the successful Swedish coach Ottmar Hitzfield who enjoyed a spell at Bayern Munich.

Brazil's World Cup winning coach Luis Felipe Scholari (Big Phil) has apparently put his name forward after a spell in charge of the Portugese national team in Euro 2004.

Ex-national boss Sir Bobby Robson, Sir Trevor Brooking, West Brom boss Bryan Robson and Wanderers assistant Sammy Lee are outsiders to replace Eriksson according to the bookmakers.

Former Lazio coach Eriksson became England's first foreign manager when taking over from Kevin Keegan in 2001 and subsequently lead the nation to the 2002 and 2006 World Cup Finals as well as the 2004 European Championships.

Here are the odds published in this mornings Daily Mirror.

5-1 Steve McClaren Sam Allardyce, Alan Curbishley
8-1 Martin O'Neill, Luiz Felipe Scolari'
10-1 Guus Hiddink, Stuart Pearce'
16-1 Jose Mourinho, Paul Jewell'
20-1 Steve Bruce, Bryan Robson'
25-1 Marcello Lippi, Ottmar Hitzfeld, Arsene Wenger'
33-1 Steve Coppell, Peter Taylor, David O'Leary'
40-1 David Moyes, Alex Ferguson, Glenn Hoddle'
50-1 Terry Venables'
66-1 Bobby Robson'
100-1 Kevin Keegan, Harry Redknapp.