Betting: Mancini and Ranieri leading contenders for Crystal Palace job

Sam Allardyce may have kept Crystal Palace in the Premier League, but the 62-year-old has decided to leave the club, indicating that he has no intention to take up another role in management.

Markets such as these are often difficult to interpret, especially at this time of the season when there are several clubs looking for new managers. The front runners can often be well fancied for several jobs at the same time, especially if they have a CV that would be attractive to numerous potential employers.

Claudio Ranieri is 4/1 (5.0) joint favourite with Paddy Power to take over at Selhurst Park. His achievements with Leicester City will ensure the Italian is usually an early front runner for many roles in the top flight of English football but the 65-year-old dismissed speculation linking him to the vacant role at Watford as merely "rumours".

Getty

In the same interview though, he didn't rule out a return to management and would be happy to manage another team in England.

The early favourite to replace Ranieri after his departure from the King Power was Roberto Mancini, and he shares favouritism with his countryman for the Palace job at 4/1 (5.0). He too has indicated a desire to return to management recently, and has been linked with West Ham, amongst other jobs.

Nigel Pearson is rated as a 7/1 (8.0) chance to take over the Eagles. The former Leicester boss is available, but does have a chequered record for his touchline antics and interactions with the press.

Goal

One particular incident saw the 53-year-old in a heated clash with Palace's James McArthur and he has since left Derby County under something of a cloud following a disagreement with Rams chairmen Mel Morris. Pearson is also being heavily linked with the vacancy at Sunderland following David Moyes' departure.

Alan Pardew is 17/2 (8.50) to make a sensational return to the club, although that seems unlikely given he was sacked earlier in the season amid a terrible run of results which Allardyce turned around.

A host of managers are available at 10/1 (11.0) including Roy Hodgson, Aitor Karanka, David Wagner and Marco Silva. The current Hull boss is hot property at the moment, seemingly high on the shortlist for roles at Porto, Watford and several more positions after impressing in his short stint at the KCOM Stadium.