Dowie Denial No Surprise

Last updated : 13 May 2004 By Kevin Markey

He is still 5/2 favourite to be appointed as manager at Elland Road with William Hill.

"We have heard what Dowie said, and wouldn't expect anything else from a boss with the play-offs on his mind, but he has been substantially backed for the position with us and you can only wonder whether he might think again if Palace fail to go up," said Hill's spokesman Graham Sharpe.

Hills make Gordon Strachan 7/2 second favourite with Kevin Blackwell at 4/1.

Sharpe added: "Compared with the betting frenzy which sometimes breaks out when a prime job becomes available it is eerily calm at the moment, with little activity in the market."

This may suggest that a manager who still has something to play for this season is being earmarked.