Warnock would be an especially bold call as next Sheff Wed boss

Given that Barnsley and Sheffield Wednesday have only won three Championship games between them this season and Wigan are arguably the biggest underachievers in the division, it is no surprise that all three clubs are now in the hunt for new managers.

Next manager markets are available for the trio of clubs and it is the situation at Sheffield Wednesday that is undoubtedly the most interesting, with Neil Warnock the favourite to take charge at 5/4.

Warnock has obvious ties with Sheffield United, whom he is said to support and managed previously for eight years, which included a promotion to the Premier League.

With a six-point gap to bridge to move out of the Championship bottom three, a squad with a reliance on loanees or players on short-term deals and just a sole win all season in the league, a manager with an ability to bring everyone associated with the club together is required.

It is hard to foresee Warnock being this figure as it is almost certain he will divide fans.

Danny Wilson was the last manager to attempt to cross the Sheffield divide and despite only a penalty shoot-out preventing him guiding Sheffield United to the Championship, he never truly won over the Bramall Lane following.

Having played for the club previously, Paolo Di Canio would bring the passion required to help Sheffield Wednesday in their quest for survival and he can be backed at 7/1 to replace Dave Jones.

Across Yorkshire, Wilson is at the head of the betting to take charge at Barnsley at 1/1, which is the team that offered him his first voyage into management and one which he guided to the top-flight for the first time in 125 years in 1997.

His CV hasn’t been the most successful since, but given that Barnsley haven’t finished any higher than 17th in the last seven Championship seasons, a big-name appointment appears unlikely.

Neil Redfearn played under Wilson at Barnsley and has spent the last three years on the coaching staff at Leeds. Redfearn is 6/1 to replace David Flitcroft at Barnsley in what would be his first permanent managerial role.