GREEK GREET

HEARTS boss Valdas Ivanauskas has been made favourite to win the SPL sack race with his side on the brink of a Champions League KO.

Defeat at Rangers last Saturday and a likely exit at the hands of AEK Athens tomorrow has left bookies wondering whether chairman Vladimir Romanov will lose patience with his coach.

At the start of the season I tipped Ivanauskas at 8-1 to b e the first SPL boss to part company with his side and he is now 2-1 with Bet365.

But could he beaten to the axe by Maurice Malpas? He has started his managerial career with four straight defeats and the Motherwell board will soon be questioning his appointment if there isn't a quick improvement.

Well are now favourites for the SPL drop ahead of St Mirren and Dunfermline and Malpas is 7-2 with Bet365 to be sacked first.

Other prices: Jim Leishman 4-1, Craig Brewster 6-1, Charlie Christie 16-1, Gordon Strachan 16-1, Jimmy Calderwood 20-1, Tony Mowbray 20-1, Jim Jefferies 20-1, John Hughes 25-1, Gus MacPherson 25-1, Paul Le Guen 40-1, no manager 25-1.

Hearts conceded two late goals at Murrayfield to leave themselves a mountain to climb in Athens and are 9-2 with Bet365 to qualify and 1-8 to fail. The Tynecastle men are a biggest 5-1 with Ladbrokes to win in Greece while AEK are 4-6 with Skybet and a draw 13-5.

Although the return of Paul Hartley should boost Jambos, they were pretty awful at Ibrox and I reckon they will lose again.

Gretna are in a worse position and have no hope of turning around their UEFA Cup tie in Derry on Thursday after losing the first leg 5-1. They are 20-1 with Bet365 to qualify but let's not even go there.

However, they could regain a bit of pride with a narrow win.

The CIS Cup and Carling Cup dominate the midweek coupons and it's tempting to fire in all the favourites on one huge accer.

Some English sides will field weakened teams so beware about being too greedy.

The likes of Birmingham, Cardiff and Crystal Palace have started well in the Championship and should be home bankers while Plymouth, Huddersfield, Leicester and Sheffield Wednesday should oblige.

There were several shocks in the Challenge Cup last week but should be fewer in the CIS which is treated more seriously.

If there's going to be a surprise it could come at Fir Park where Motherwell entertain a Partick side who have made a solid start to the season. The Jags are 9-2.

Falkirk and Kilmarnock are safe bets at okay prices away to Cowdenbeath and QoS respectively while Dundee Utd, Hibs and St Mirren look home certs.

Totesport have priced up a fun bet featuring Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink.He is 7-2 to score more goals for Celtic in the SPL than the number of letters in his surname.

Taken from the Daily Record