New favourite emerges for NUFC job - Odds slashed on 'plan B' with Emery deal in doubt

At one stage yesterday, you'd only make £1 if you put a tenner on Unai Emery to become the next Newcastle United boss. The bookies felt that certain it was going through.

Less than 24 hours later, reports from Spain claim he's now ready to reject our interest due to concerns over the club's structure - also being unimpressed by leaks suggesting he was set for the NUFC job before Villarreal's crucial Champions League clash with Young Boys on Tuesday night.

As a result, Emery is no longer the 'favourite' for the job, seeing Eddie Howe (11/10) take the number one spot.

This comes after The Athletic's David Ornstein reported yesterday that our new owners had narrowed their search down to two candidates - Unai Emery and Eddie Howe.

The former was described as the clear frontrunner and preferred candidate at the time, however all roads could now lead to Howe - our likely 'plan B' - if the former Arsenal boss really has rejected a move to Tyneside?

Would Howe be an upgrade on Steve Bruce? Most definitely. But a man who got Bournemouth relegated in his last job - which was almost 15 months ago - will be seen as an underwhelming alternative to a four-time Europa League winner who had a proven track record of organising defences.

We'll have to hope the Emery deal can be resurrected, but you have to question the new owners vision when their two leading candidates have VERY different philosophies.

Nevertheless, here's the latest odds via Sky Bet as of Wednesday morning: