Bank on Leicester City to go up, say bookies
Leicester City are still virtually assured of an instant return to the Championship despite their recent dip in form.
That is the view of bookmakers Mark Jarvis, who have already paid out £10,000 to punters who backed City for promotion.
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Matty Fryatt celebrates scoring against Carlisle
Jarvis took the decision to hand over the cash at the end of January when City were nine points clear.
Their lead is now down to two points but Jarvis still have them at a virtually unbackable 1-20 to go straight back up.
Jarvis's spokesman Ben Coley said: "We could end up with egg on our faces but we are not unduly concerned. We still think Leicester will be promoted."
That view is understandable because, although the lead has shrunk dramatically, City are still seven points clear of third-placed Millwall. And, with the Lions hosting second-placed Peterborough on Monday, one or both will drop points.
However, whether City go up as champions is now another matter.
A month ago, betting was virtually suspended on the title race with City at 1-66. But they are now only just odds-on at 4-7.
Coley said: "We have had a couple of inquiries about backing them again."
He is still expecting to have to pay out on City winning the title, a result which will cost them nearly £20,000 in bets struck before the start of the season.
Indeed, bookmakers nationally see it as a two-horse race for the title with Peterborough generally on offer at around 6-4 and all other teams at least 20-1.
With two automatic promotion spots up for grabs, that should provide some relief for the Blue Army.
City travel to Hereford on Saturday before Monday's all-ticket home clash against fifth-placed Leeds (12.15).
13 Comments
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by Jon, Leicester
Wednesday, April 08 2009, 8:10AM
“It's going to be tight, but I think City will still go up as champions.”
by Ronjo, Leicester
Tuesday, April 07 2009, 2:16PM
“Constantly changing managers have landed us in this league. We need stability and that means hanging on to NP.”
by Tom, Leicester
Tuesday, April 07 2009, 2:13PM
“Here's the loan signing arguement again. Look at it this way, we wouldn't have got Hobbs, Gillbert, Cleverly, Davies etc its simple as that, 3 of the listed ones are from top 4 premiership clubs, it just wouldn't happen. Like i said previously we're £15 million in debt this year, hardly the time to open the cheque book. Tony, Oxford, you obvoiusly have a gripe with NP, you do nothing but slate the bloke, but answer this, how could he improve on what he's done.? Top of the league, lost only 4 times (don't use the Cloughy lose less line). OK its debatable whether he has plan b, but in order to have a plan b you must have the players to action it. Calling for his head is utterly unbelievable. Maybe he could step down and manage that reserve team we don't have hey Tony.? (another cracking comment you made previously, we don;t have a ressie side.! - just shows what you know)”
by Dave, Top of the League
Tuesday, April 07 2009, 2:10PM
“Spot on Nick , Loan Players were a sensible option for this League and this is why we are and have been top of the league for months. How many top quality players would have wanted to come and play in league 1?? All you would get is players after the money. Thes players also want 2,3,4 year contracts which is what got us into this mess.(and holloway of course) Look at mark davies the sort of player we need a choice between premiership or league 1. Be thankful for the teams efforts even over these last few games you cant fault the team for trying unlike last year. There is a lot of youth in the team and mistakes and apprehension will take its toll, Ijust hope you keep your negativity away from home matches where its not wanted..”
by mark, syston
Tuesday, April 07 2009, 2:00PM
“god!! don't alot of people on here have much hope! 1st or 2nd we will go up!”
by nick, birstall
Tuesday, April 07 2009, 1:49PM
“Tony and GF were you by any chance having the same view about a certain Martin Oneill in his first season???? what more can the man do but get us promoted in his first season as manager. Surely he would then have earned the right to try and take us to the next level? He has a lot of good qualities but remember he is still fairly inexperienced and I think we need stability if we are going to move on.”
by Tony, Oxford
Tuesday, April 07 2009, 1:44PM
“It's not very often I read a sensible comment in this column but GF Leicester, has just made one: Pearson is not the way forward.”
by Dave, Top of the League
Tuesday, April 07 2009, 1:35PM
“I think the people below need to ring the samaritans!!! Yes we have struggled recently but to suggest a different manager is ridiculous!! Some of these Fans would Gripe about alex ferguson putting on a 17 year old..”
by Nick, Birstall
Tuesday, April 07 2009, 1:30PM
“I cant believe we have the mourners out (SH, GF etc) already. We are still going to go up albeit with a little more excitement and nerves. I think the decision to recruit loan players was spot on for this division as it has given us some real good lads for a season. If we had tried to sign players on who do you think we would have ended up with - the likes of what we had last year!!! This way we can go up and recruit some real quality, which I do admit is needed, for a push towards the premiership. As far as getting rid of Pearson goes what else does the guy have to do? This is a very very hard league to get out of and he looks like doing it at the first time of asking. He took over a club in turmoil and has worked wonders on a limited budget (loan players remember!) and I for one want to see him take the next step. All clubs go through a dip, look at united who 4 weeks ago were all but crowned champions. Do we hear their fans calling for fergies head and suggesting benitez take over?? I think not. Keep the faith and championship here we come”
by GF Leicester, Leicester
Tuesday, April 07 2009, 12:50PM
“Just more superflous space filling from our local paper. Looking at the present situation I think the clever money would now go LCFC staying in League One for at least another season. The current form does not even equal relegation quality. I believe that unfortunately Nigel (one trick pony) Pearson has been found out before the job has been completed. If the Plan A route one tactics fail there is clearly no Plan B. Even if we should scrape home then I think we should still bite the bullet once again and look for an alternative leader for the Championship where a much greater variety of tactics will be essential and I would look no further than 45 miles east to Peterborough to a man who has no budget or very few loan players.”