Wales manager Craig Bellamy sat in the dugout looking at the pitch and frowning
Wales manager Craig BellamyImago
Burnley

Craig Bellamy installed as new odds-on favourite to take Championship job

Oliver Walton
Oliver Walton

Correspondent AUTHORITY Football journalist with experience at Reach PLC and PA Media; University of Central Lancashire graduate. FOCUS Fan-engagement content and match analysis across the Premier League and Championship. THE INSIGHT Oliver utilises a network of club and industry contacts to deliver verified reporting and fan-first content. He provides the human stories behind the results to ensure fans get the full picture as it happens.

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Craig Bellamy has been installed as the new odds-on favourite to take the vacant Burnley job after their relegation to the Championship.

Burnley are still searching for a new manager after parting ways with Scott Parker before they dropped back into the second tier.

Parker was criticised for failing to adapt his approach in the Premier League as he left by mutual consent on 30 April.

Assistant boss Mike Jackson took charge of their last four games of the campaign, with several candidates mooted to succeed Parker on a permanent basis.

One of the UK's top bookmakers has slashed Wales manager Bellamy's odds to take the job next.

He was Vincent Kompany's assistant at Turf Moor between 2022 and 2024, as the Clarets won the Championship title but were subsequently relegated.

Bellamy has reiterated his desire to remain in charge of his country amid links away, but Burnley could be planning to test his loyalty in the coming weeks.

What are Craig Bellamy's odds to be the next Burnley boss?

Bellamy spent time as Kompany's right-hand man at Anderlecht before they worked together at Turf Moor.

He signed a four-year contract with the Welsh FA in July 2024 with the aim of taking the country to the 2026 World Cup, but they failed to qualify after a play-off defeat to Bosnia & Herzegovina.

The 46-year-old has been heavily linked with a return to Burnley since Parker's exit, but rumours have faded in recent weeks.

It will, then, come as a surprise to many to learn that a leading UK bookmaker has now installed Bellamy as the new 1/3 favourite to be the next Clarets boss.

Wales manager Craig Bellamy sat in the dugout looking at the pitch and frowning
Steven Gerrard has had 'four meetings' with Burnley to discuss manager's role

Who else is in contention to be Burnley's new boss?

Sources have told Football Insider that Steven Gerrard has held four meetings with Burnley chiefs to discuss the vacant role.

He is the current second-favourite to be their next manager, at odds of 4/1, even though a deal seems unlikely as all parties will surely have moved on from discussions held last month.

Former Bayer Leverkusen boss Kasper Hjulmand is close behind at 5/1, while Ange Postecoglou, Robbie Keane and Brian Barry-Murphy are each also believed to be in contention as it stands, at odds of 8/1.

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