THE odds on manager Roy Keane leaving Ipswich Town before the end of the season have been cut to 1/3 by Sky Bet.

THE odds on manager Roy Keane leaving Ipswich Town before the end of the season have been cut to 1/3 by Sky Bet.

The Tractor Boys, who were heavily supported pre-season to be promoted at 5/2, have made their worst start to the season in 40 years and remain second bottom of the Championship following last night's 1-1 draw at home to Nottingham Forest.

Sky Bet have now lengthened their odds of playing in the Premier League next season to 11/1 (from 10/1).

The former Sunderland chief is 9/4 to see out the season at Portman Road.

Sky Bet's Helen Jacob said: “Ipswich have made a very slow start to their Championship campaign and given Keane's past managerial record, it would not be a surprise to see him leave his post at Ipswich if a marked improvement isn't made soon.”

Also under pressure in the leagues directly above and below Ipswich are Bolton and Tramere bosses Gary Megson and John Barnes. All three teams are languishing in the bottom three of their respective leagues and Sky Bet make Tranmere boss Barnes favourite to be the first of the trio to leave his post.

Tranmere have won only one league game in seven since Barnes took over in June and Sky Bet make the former England international 4/9 favourite to lose his job first.

Gary Megson, who guided Bolton to their first points of the season last weekend at Fratton Park, is 3/1 second favourite to part company with his club first, while Roy Keane is 9/2 to leave Ipswich first.