Next Blackpool Manager: Ex-Luton Town, Stoke and Brighton boss sees odds slashed

There's a new front runner for the vacant Blackpool job.

An early front-runner in the race to succeed Simon Grayson as Blackpool manager has today been revealed by the bookies.

Grayson, 50, returned to Bloomfield Road last year, having previously led the Tangerines to promotion into the Championship in 2007.

However, a slide in form saw Pool drop to 15th in League One, having been fourth in mid-December, prompting the board to relieve Grayson of his duties following a run of only one win in 12 games in all competitions.

First team coach David Dunn, the ex-Birmingham City and Blackburn midfielder, has taken charge as a caretaker on an interim basis.

On Grayson's sacking, Blackpool owner Simon Sadler said: “Given his past success here, Simon Grayson will always be a part of the Club’s history and I would like to wish both him and Ian Miller well for the future.

However, in an interesting development, the bookies have today installed ex-Luton Town and Stoke City boss Nathan Jones as odds on favourite to take the Bloomfield Road hot seat.

The Welshman is 1/1 on with BetVictor and 9/4 with William Hill.

Ex-Barnsley, Hibernian and Leeds United manager Paul Heckingottom was initially installed as the 5/2 front-runner to replace Grayson last night.

However, the bookies now have Jones as a clear favourite, with Heckingbottom second at 5/2 and Barrow boss and former Blackpool man Ian Evatt a close third at 6/1 with BetVictor and 10/3 with William Hill.

The Tangerines are now 13 points outside the top six, with just 15 games remaining.