SCUNTHORPE manager Nigel Adkins has been installed as the bookies' red-hot favourite to take over as Southampton boss after some 'significant' big money moves yesterday.

A day which started with Martin O'Neill's odds being shortened ended with Adkins, 45, in pole position.

While the Iron boss was again non-committal on the possible interest in him, bookies Victor Chandler were cutting the odds on him becoming Saints' manager three times in a matter of hours.

First, his odds were cut from 3-1 to evens, then to 4-6 odds-on favourite and later to 8-13 odds-on after a £500 bet.

They then suspended betting on the next Saints manager, so confident are they that Adkins is set for St Mary's.

"You don't see bets in this sort of market of £500 at odds-on favourite on a whim, just because we've made Nigel Adkins the favourite," VC spokesman David Jenkins said.

"They must have some other information from another source – after all, they're putting on £500 just to win £200.

"We're not always right in cases like this, but with these sort of bets at these sort of figures we're right 80 or 90 per cent of the time."

SkyBet also had Adkins as favourite at 1/2, with former Hull boss Phil Brown close behind at 2/1.