As the 2008/2009 season gets ever closer, it gets nearer the time where transfer rumours stop and the managerial merry-go-round gets dusted down and put into use. But who are the favourites to go before the season has even started?

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Some would jump on one of the three newcomers to offload the manager who brought them up, but the bookies say otherwise. William Hill have West Ham’s Alan Curbishley as 5/1 favourite for the chop, with Newcastle’s Kevin Keegan and Bolton’s Gary Megson close behind on 7/1. Stoke’s Tony Pulis and Hull’s Phil Brown are both down the order at 10/1. West Brom’s Tony Mowbray is at 16/1, level with Wigan’s Steve Bruce, Sunderland’s Roy Keane and Man City’s new boss Mark Hughes.

Does this reflect that the first four months of the new campaign are basically open season on managers? Are expectations so high that only Rafa, Fergie, Big Phil and Wenger are safe? Or are the bookies just giving the newcomers a chance, thinking that the managers who saw the unexpected promotions of Hull and Stoke will be given some slack if they are 10 points adrift come November? I thought the same of Billy Davies, but he was needlessly sent packing by Derby after a near-impossible promotion.

So, have your say. Who will go first?