Next Blackpool Manager Odds: Ryan Lowe Favourite
August is not yet over but Blackpool are already looking for a new manager after the sacking of Neil Critchley.
The UK betting sites have drawn up a list of candidates to take over at Bloomfield Road.
Blackpool missed out on the League One play-offs under Critchley last season and have made a poor start to the current campaign.
Back-to-back defeats by Crawley Town (1-2) and Stockport County (0-3), both of whom were playing in League Two in 2023/24, left the Tangerines second-bottom and made Critchley’s position untenable.
Manager | Odds | Bookmaker |
Ryan Lowe | 6/5 | 45.5% |
Pete Wild | 5/1 | 46.7% |
Brian Barry-Murphy | 8/1 | 11.1% |
Scott Lindsey | 10/1 | 9.1% |
Richard Keogh | 14/1 | 6.7% |
Michael Appleton | 16/1 | 5.9% |
Gary Rowett | 16/1 | 5.9% |
Paul Cook | 16/1 | 5.9% |
Critchley’s assistant Mike Garrity has also departed, so first-team coach Richard Keogh will take over on an interim basis, starting with Saturday's trip to Cambridge United.
Who will be next in the hot seat at Bloomfield Road? Let’s take a look at the early contenders for the job according to betting apps.
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Lowe The Clear Favourite For Now
Critchley was not the first EFL manager to lose his job this season, that unwanted distinction belongs to Ryan Lowe, who was given the heave-ho by Preston North End last week.
The 45-year-old is now the favourite for the Blackpool job, with football betting sites offering odds of 5/4.
Preston and Blackpool are arch-rivals, so this move would perhaps raise eyebrows at first.
But Lowe did a reasonable job at Deepdale, making North End competitive in the Championship despite a relatively small budget. This could be one to keep an eye on.
Wild Also Thought To Be In The Mix
Pete Wild is another out-of-work manager and that immediate availability could appeal to the decision-makers at Bloomfield Road.
He left Barrow at the end of last season having secured back-to-back top-half finishers in League Two in 2022/23 and 2023/24.
Having had a few months out of work, Wild may be ready to jump back in. But he has no experience of managing above the fourth tier of English football, which could put Blackpool off.
For now, though, Wild is the second-favourite in the betting markets at a price of 6/1.
Murphy Could Be Next Blackpool Boss
Brian Barry Murphy, an 8/1 shot for the Blackpool job, would be a fascinating choice. The Irishman, who spent many years in the North East as a player, has never been a first-team manager before.
However, he is well regarded at Manchester City, where he served as the head coach of the club’s elite development squad until earlier this year.
Barry Murphy decided to leave that position in order to pursue his own managerial career at senior level. He has been linked with Preston but could end up at Blackpool following Critchley’s exit.
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Lindsey Fourth In The Betting Market
Scott Lindsey is available at 10/1 as Blackpool begin their search for their next manager.
The Seasiders got a close-up view of the 52-year-old earlier this month, as Lindsey oversaw Crawley’s 2-1 victory over Critchley’s team.
Having kept Crawley in League Two in 2022/23, Lindsey then led them to promotion via the play-offs last term.
He seems to be on to a good thing at the Broadfield Stadium, though, and it remains to be seen whether Blackpool is a big enough pull for him to leave his current job.
Manning A Long Shot Despite Odds
Liam Manning might be the joint-fifth favourite according to the bookies, but this one looks like a real long shot.
Blackpool would no doubt love to land Manning, but the fact he is currently employed by Championship side Bristol City surely makes that impossible.
Manning can nevertheless be backed at 14/1 on new betting sites.
Barry An Interesting Outsider
Anthony Barry has experience of working with some of the biggest and best players in world football.
Currently a coach with the Portugal national team, he has also worked on the backroom staff at Bayern Munich, Belgium and Chelsea.
Barry is a 14/1 choice for the vacant Blackpool job.
Neil Waiting For Next Opportunity
Alex Neil, another former Preston manager, is also available at 14/1.
He has had mixed success in the EFL, but his most recent job at Stoke City did not go well.
Neil may need to drop down to League One for his next job, but he is not seen as one of the leading candidates for the Blackpool job right now.
Positive Caretaker Spell Would Help Keogh
We have seen interim managers given the job on a full-time basis plenty of times before, which is why Richard Keogh (14/1) could emerge as a strong contender.
The former defender, best remembered for his time at Derby County, will need to get a few wins on the board to be genuinely considered, though.
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