Still odds against Foxes claiming Premier crown

WITH only nine games to go in the Barclays Premier League, bookmakers are still not entirely convinced Leicester City will take the title.

If it were a Manchester City or Chelsea sitting pretty with a five-point lead, surely the odds compilers would have shut up shop by now. Claudio Ranieri’s Foxes are available at 11-10 in most places, while next-best Tottenham can be backed at 3-1.

Arsenal are third on the list at fives, while City are 6-1 with Paddy Power and Betfair to claim a second Premier League crown.

Although Manuel Pellegrini’s men are 10 points off the pace, bookmakers are taking no chances with a side who have been there, done that and got the T-shirt.

At the other end of the table, Newcastle are seemingly only going one way — to the Championship — after their miserable effort against Bournemouth last weekend.

There were calls for manager Steve McClaren’s head after the 3-1 defeat, and several out-of-work, high-profile names have been linked to move to St James’ Park if the former England coach gets the chop.

It’s no surprise that ex-Manchester United and Everton boss David Moyes tops the list at evens (Betvictor), while Brendan Rodgers is as low as 11-4 with Boylesport and Paddy Power.