Former West Brom defender, manager and favourite Darren Moore has been named as the joint favourite in the race to replace Neil Warnock at Huddersfield Town. Warnock announced on Monday that he will step down from his role as Town boss after Tuesday evening’s welcoming of Stoke City.
Warnock, 74, successfully guided th
e Terriers to safety amid the threat of relegation at the back end of last season, and while they began this term slowly, they beat Albion at The Hawthorns before the international break and then followed that up with a victory over Rotherham United on Saturday. He will walk away after Tuesday, however.
That frees up a Championship opportunity for one out-of-work manager, and Moore – who was sacked by Sheffield Wednesday having guided them to promotion from League One at the end of last season – has been identified as the early bookies’ favourite. Moore and Nathan Jones, formerly of Luton and Stoke, top the list.
Moore is from the West Midlands but knows Yorkshire well from his playing days at Bradford City and Barnsley and then in management with Doncaster and, as mentioned, Wednesday. His ties with Warnock, of course, go back to the infamous 2002 Battle of Bramall Lane, when he turned out for Gary Megson’s Albion against Warnock’s Sheffield United.
Moore returned to Albion at the end of last month to receive his Albion cap, which are being handed out to all former Baggies players. He was warmly received when introduced on the pitch at half time in the 4-2 win over Middlesbrough.
A King Casino Bonus spokesperson said: “Neil Warnock’s Huddersfield exit has created a shock opening at the Championship club and Darren Moore and Nathan Jones are the joint 7/2 favourites to return to work by taking the job at The John Smith’s Stadium.
“Paul Heckingbottom is next in the market at 11/2 amid reports that he may be replaced as Sheffield United manager, while highly-rated coach Leam Richardson is 6/1 and former Reading manager Paul Ince is 9/1 to return to the dugout.”
Former Albion boss Steve Bruce, who has been out of work since being sacked by Albion in October last season, is 20/1 to return to his former club. Bruce managed Huddersfield in 1999.