AXED Huddersfield Town boss Lee Clark is one of the bookies' favourites for the newly vacant Sheffield Wednesday job.

Gary Megson was sent packing last night by Milan Mandaric despite his team sitting third in League One and having won the Steel City derby against rivals United just 72 hours earlier.

Clark was sacked by chairman Dean Hoyle on February 15 after the chairman said he had lost faith that the former Newcastle and Fulham midfielder could take Town up.

Wednesday today sit on 60 points, one ahead of Town having played a game more. Sheffield United in second spot are on 65 points.

This morning former Huddersfield Town striker and Skybet PR chief said the market had already moved with former Cardiff City boss Dave Jones at 1-2 favourite, axed Wolves man Mick McCarthy at 2-1 and Clark at 100-30.

There was also interest in Paul Ince at 12-1 and Swindon's Paulo Di Canio at 14s.

Dale said: "It was definitely a surprise after winning the Steel City derby - but I suppose nothing in the manager market should suprise us any more.

"Sheffield Wednesday have been on the slide for a bit - similar to Huddersfield Town when Lee Clark went.

"The board expectation is that they should be going up automatically - but Charlton, Sheffield United and Huddersfield Town's board think that as well so someone is going to be underachieving."

Dale thought the market reflected the feeling that Wednesday would aim for a quick change - and that meant a boss who was already out of work so no time consuming chase or negotiations needed to take place.

He added: "Who's available quickly rather than in a job? That sort of thing tends to happen in the off season rather than in season.

"Di Canio is the interesting one. He's a big price but would he take the job mid-season - especially with Swindon doing so well?

"Dave Jones may be persuaded to take a short-term deal and be told 'Get us up and the job's yours otherwise it's to the end of the season'"