Football Betting: Hughes Backed For City Exit

Gambling firms cut odds on Hughes leaving position as City manager.

Sports betting firms have once again slashed their odds on Mark Hughes leaving Manchester City following his side's defeat to West Bromwich Albion yesterday (December 21st).

City were beaten 2-1 at the Hawthorns, with Roman Bednar's last-minute winner claiming three points for the Premier League's bottom club and increasing the pressure on Hughes.

The Welshman's team are now languishing in the relegation zone after winning just once in their last nine league games.

William Hill makes Hughes 8/15 to have left his position by the beginning of the 2009-10 season, while he is now favourite to be the next top-flight manager to exit his club at 5/6.

"Sitting in the bottom three will not play well with City's new owners and it will make it all the more difficult to attract big name players to the club," commented Graham Sharpe, spokesperson for the bookmaker.

However, Hughes told BBC Sport after yesterday's game that the club's owners "understand things will not happen overnight".

Hughes' side play Hull City at Eastlands on Boxing Day.