ODDS have tumbled on Brendan Rodgers becoming the next manager of Newcastle.

On Monday the current Leicester City boss was as far out as 16/1 but he is now 7/4 with some bookies.

Rodgers overtakes Rangers manager Steven Gerrard who was favourite for the role over the weekend.

Frank Lampard, Antonio Conte, Roberto Martinez and Graeme Jones are also all in the running.

Steve Bruce is still currently the manager of the Toon but he is expected to be relieved of his duties as soon as this weekend.

Amanda Staveley and Mehrdad Ghodoussi met the Newcastle squad on Monday as head coach Bruce waited to learn his fate.

Staveley, the figurehead of the Saudi-backed consortium which completed its takeover at St James’ Park last Thursday, and her husband were pictured on the club’s website watching training at Darsley Park after introducing themselves to the players.

There was no sign in the official photographs of Bruce, whose departure has been predicted ever since it became apparent that Mike Ashley, who had remained a staunch supporter of the man he asked to replace Rafael Benitez in July 2019, had finally managed to offload the Magpies.

Newcastle sit 19th in the Premier League table after winning none of their opening seven games, and Bruce has himself acknowledged that the new owners could want to bring in their own man.