Cardiff, Leicester and Stoke among favourites to appoint Sam Allardyce as manager

Cardiff City, Leicester City and Stoke City are all listed as likely destinations for the former Everton manager.

Sam Allardyce's Everton sacking has prompted Sky Bet to open a market on the 63-year-old's next club - with Cardiff City, Leicester City and Stoke City among the favourites to hire him.

Allardyce was dismissed after just six months at Everton, despite leading the Toffees from 13th to eighth and eliminating the threat of relegation.

But the former England manager's style of play and perceived failure to embrace his Toffees' role saw his relationship with the Goodison Park faithful deteriorate rapidly.

That is not to say that others will be put off, however, and Allardyce's track record - he has also saved Bolton Wanderers, Blackburn Rovers, Sunderland and Crystal Palace from precarious positions - should stand him in good stead should vacancies emerge.

And despite having managers in place already, it is Cardiff (7/2), Leicester (5/1) and Stoke (7/1) who are deemed the most likely to take the plunge.

Cardiff just secured promotion under Neil Warnock but could look to change things up should they get off to a bad start next season, while Claude Puel's Leicester future has long been deemed as uncertain.

The same goes for Paul Lambert at Stoke, who could trigger a break clause in the Scot's contract after he failed to keep them in the Premier League.

And hiring Allardyce could appeal to the Potters, after his promotions with Bolton and West Ham United.

Where might Sam end up after leaving Everton? These are the most likely destinations, according to Sky Bet:

Cardiff City - 7/2

Leicester City - 5/1

Any Chinese Super League Club -6/1

Stoke City - 7/1

Burnley - 8/1

Any MLS Club - 9/1

West Bromwich Albion - 10/1