BOOKMAKERS have suspended betting on Nigel Adkins being the next Saints manager.

Victor Chandler yesterday cut the odds on Scunthorpe’s manager replacing Alan Pardew from 3-1 to evens, then to 4/6 odds on and later to 8/13 odds on.

The company have now suspended the betting after getting two more requests.

The first was a £1,500 bet on Adkins at 8/13 on, and the second was from a punter wanting to bet a whopping £5,000 at 4/9.

RED-HOT favourite for the Saints job Nigel Adkins has admitted Nicola Cortese has "an important decision to make" regarding Alan Pardew’s replacement.

Bookies have started suspending betting on the Scunthorpe boss being appointed at St Mary’s, and it has been reported that the 45-year-old has opened talks on the south coast.

Yesterday, the Iron manager was taking training at Scunthorpe as usual.

But an appointment is expected at St Mary’s this week and Adkins is the red-hot favourite to become Pardew’s successor.

As an intelligent, up-and-coming boss, with a record of success already, Adkins fits the bill for what Saints are understood to be looking for.

While Adkins is still remaining coy on the speculation, he hinted that Saints are a club that would suit him.

"I am sure Southampton are actively looking to appoint a new manager as quickly as they can,” he said.

"Dean Wilkins has been put in temporary charge. He is a safe pair of hands – a similar situation I was in when Brian (Laws) left Scunthorpe.

"I am sure there have been plenty of applications for the role and a lot of highly thought of people who have applied for the job.

"You look at the history of the club and fan base they have got.

"They are in their 125th season now.

"You look at the stadium and the ambition of where they want to go.

"As a club they suffered financially by going into administration.

"New owners are in there now and will want to try and keep Southampton Football Club moving forward.

"They will want to get back to the Championship as soon as possible.

"That is the obvious link with me because we have been promoted twice from the division Southampton now find themselves in.

"The chairman there now has an important decision to make."