BOOKMAKERS received a surge of bets on former Burnley boss Steve Cotterill yesterday as odds drifted on Sean Dyche becoming the next manager of Leicester City.

Dyche was installed as the early favourite for the Foxes job, with the Clarets boss said to be on the shortlist to replace Nigel Pearson at the King Power Stadium.

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But the Lancashire Telegraph understands that Leicester have made no contact with Dyche at this stage and it is believed that they did not have a replacement lined up when they dispensed with Pearson’s services late on Tuesday.

Dyche is starting to be linked with a number of jobs after gaining admiration for the job he has done at Turf Moor, and he was on Sunderland’s shortlist for their managerial vacancy before Dick Advocaat made a U-turn and decided to stay as Black Cats boss.

The Leicester hierarchy are looking for a manager with a good PR image after growing frustrated with the series of disputes that Pearson became involved in, and Dyche is widely respected in the game.

But the former Watford boss has always stressed he is happy at Turf Moor and he is also not universally popular with Leicester fans as a result of the rivalry between Burnley and the Foxes over the past two seasons.

The odds on him becoming Leicester’s new boss lengthened significantly yesterday as ex-Clarets manager Cotterill emerged as a surprise candidate.

A surge of bets were placed yesterday on Cotterill and Bolton Wanderers boss Neil Lennon, a former Leicester player - leading bookmakers to install the duo as the two favourites for the job.

Cotterill impressed many with the way he led Bristol City to the League One title during 2014/15.

Sam Allardyce has also been linked, although he has said he wants to take a six-month break from the game following his departure from West Ham United.

The Burnley squad returned to Gawthorpe for pre-season fitness tests yesterday - minus Tom Heaton and Michael Keane, who have been given extra time off following international duty.

Summer signing Matt Lowton linked up with his new team-mates for the first time and skipper Jason Shackell was present as expected despite speculation over his future, with Derby County still keen on taking the defender back to Pride Park.

Michael Duff also linked up for pre-season as he closes in on a new contract to keep him with the Clarets for the 2015/16 campaign.

Burnley’s first pre-season match is in Switzerland against Etoile Carouge on July 10.