Loitering near the bottom of the Premier League table having made an indifferent start to the season, former Tottenham and Ajax boss Martin Jol is one top-flight manager edging precariously close towards the exit door

Following a string of bad results, including defeat to Championship outfit Leicester City in the League cup, Martin Jol’s odds of becoming the next managerial casualty have been slashed to 4/7 by most bookmakers as the London club face a fierce battle to retain their Premier League status.

Although the cottagers have won just 2 games all season, former England striker and freebets columnist Matt Le Tissier says the London club can overcome their early season troubles if forward-duo Dimetar Berbatov and Darren Bent can garner a lethal goal-scoring partnership.

However, if results don’t change quickly on the pitch for Jol’s men he could soon become the Premier League’s second managerial casualty following Paulo Dicanio at Sunderland.

With that eventuality in mind, we look at the most likely candidates to take up the Craven Cottage hot seat.

Martin O’Neill

Hot favourite to take over should Jol get the chop is Ulsterman Martin O’Neill who has been out of work since being sacked by Sunderland at the back end of last season. The 61-year old seemed to be found out at Aston Villa- after a bright start- with his dinosauric style of football and bizarre transfer policies ultimately accounting for his demise at the Midlands giants. However, O’Neill is an astute man and a great man-motivator so he could provide some stability.

Malky Mackay

The Cardiff City manager’s future is in doubt following the dismissal of one of his close allies and trusted scouts: Iain Moody. Moody was replaced by a 23-yearold intern with no football experience, who is now responsible for the Bluebird’s transfer policy, much to the dismay of Cardiff fans and coaching staff.

MacKay was voted LMA Championship Manager of the Year last season for his exerts in leading the Welsh club into the Premier League for the first time and the Fulham executives will be keeping a close eye on the Scot should his post become untenable.

Roberto Di Matteo

After managing West Bromwich Albion and then guiding Chelsea to their first Champions League victory in their history, Roberto Di Matteo (RDM) was a little unfortunate to be relieved of his duties as Stamford Bridge boss a few months later.

However, RDM hardly is an ambitious man looking for another shot at the big time so Fulham could fall slightly below his aspirations.

Ole Gunnar Solksjaer

Seemingly linked to every Premier League job that opens up, the Manchester United legend is working wonders at Norwegian club Molde; winning the national league title for 2 consecutive seasons.

The baby faced assassin looks certain to grace a Premier League touchline sometime soon but it’s just a matter of when and where?