BOOKIES HAVE CITY AS 20-1 OUTSIDERS
Leicester City have as much chance of gaining promotion to the Premiership next season as Peter Taylor's Hull City.
That is according to local bookmakers Mark Jarvis and Manny Bernstein, who have priced City at 20-1 to win the Championship - the same odds as newly-promoted Hull.
The consensus among the bookies is that City are not one of the favourites for the league, with Wolves and the teams relegated from the Premiership most fancied for promotion.
Ben Coley, of Jarvis, said: "To illustrate, 20-1 would be a similar price to Liverpool winning the Premiership.
"We think there will be a lot of interest in City at that price.
"It reflects the fact that they struggled last season and will need to perform a lot better.
"Here, we think they will make it into the top 10 and could scrape into the play-offs."
Jarvis have installed Wolves and Crystal Palace as early 6-1 favourites, closely followed by Norwich and Southampton at 13-2. Derby were 16-1 shots before manager George Burley's resignation yesterday, while Coventry are 50-1 outsiders.
Coley said: "Wolves were the form side at the end of the season and Glenn Hoddle is doing a good job.
"Palace, Norwich and Southampton all seem to be holding on to their squads following relegation.
"Coventry are towards the lower end of the market and will be struggling to stay up."
City's odds are echoed by Bernstein, who have Norwich favourites (11-2), followed by Southampton (6-1), Wolves (13-2) and Palace (7-1).
Bernstein's Darren Forrest said: "City are unfancied and we have them at 20-1 for the Championship.
"Our price is based on last year's performance but no-one would be cheering them on more than us if they do go up."
City striker David Connolly is 18-1 with Tremayne to be the division's top scorer while strike partner Mark de Vries is a 66-1 shot.
The Saffron Lane bookmakers have City at 16-1 for the Champ-ionship, the same as Leeds, and 7-2 to gain promotion.