Hughton the favourite?

It's only rumours, but where would be without rumours during the summer! Read about cricket. From want the South Wales Echo is saying this morning the race for the manager's job is a two horse race between Chris Hughton and Roberto Di Matteo's although the odds on the Italian is cooling.

The Echo has the ex-Newcastle boss Hughton has favourite to the manager's office at the Vale training ground and according to the paper he has already spoken to officials at the Club. Like nearly always with these stories there is a source this time someone close to the ex-manager who revealed he is keen as mustard to coming to South Wales and take over the Bluebirds.

He took Newcastle into the Premiership so knows the pressure of the Championship are like, but in the Premier League after 3-1 defeat at West Brom in December, Hughton was sacked. It was a decision ill-received by the players and the supporters. Only the week before they drew 1-1 with Chelsea and a few weeks before that beat Arsenal away 1-0. Since he was sacked he has been linked with a few jobs.

Swiss-born former Italian international Roberto Di Matteo's has been picking up a lot of support from the fans for the job, but his odds with the bookies who have their finger on the pulse of these things are lengthening.

Di Matteo's was manager of West Brom and was one of the catalyst to Hughtonin lose his job. By February it was the West Brom bosses turn to suffer the sack. Ironically both managers took their respective clubs to the Permier League the previous season with West Brom to automatic promotion behind Hughton and Newcastle.

Various anther names have been mention, but these two are the most widely linked to the spot in the Cardiff dugout. Maybe a cuckoo as land in the nest because from nowhere former Barnsley boss Mark Robins is favourite with some bookies. Hard to believe, but we have to wait and see the target is to announce the new boss by the middle of the week.