BOOKIES got it spectacularly wrong when they made Jim Jefferies favourite to win the sack race last season.

The Kilmarnock boss was fancied for an early exit but survived the whole campaign as the Rugby Park men excelled.

Several firms have again priced up the market and there is a difference of opinion on which SPL boss will be first to leave his club this season.

William Hill have surprisingly made St Mirren's Gus MacPherson 4-1 joint favourite with Craig Brewster while Bet365 have Dunfermline's Jim Leishman a short-priced 7-4 ahead of Hearts gaffer Valdas Ivanauskas at 7-2.

With Vladimir Romanov's record of sacking managers Ivanauskas must be worth a plunge at 8-1 with Hill.

Hearts are third favourites for the SPL but if they fail to make the Champions League group stage Romanov might swing the axe again.

MacPherson's top billing with Hill doesn't make much sense as he could lose almost every game and still keep his job after doing so well to take the Paisley club up.

He is 20-1 with Bet365.

Leishman could be well backed at 5-1 with Hill because if the Pars make a stuttering start he may feel a move upstairs is the best option.

Brewster is 5-1 with Bet365 and will need a decent start to stop fans calling for his head. The rest of the bosses look safer - unless they choose to move.

Best price on Paul Le Guen is 40-1 with Bet365 while Celtic's Gordon Strachan is 50-1 with Hill and no manager going is 25-1 (Bet365).

Jefferies is 20-1 with Bet365 who are also biggest on Motherwell's Maurice Malpas (10-1), Falkirk's John Hughes (14-1) and ICT's Charlie Christie (16-1).

Hill are best on Aberdeen's Jimmy Calderwood (10-1) and Hibs'Tony Mowbray (20-1).

Hearts broke the mould last season when they split the Old Firm - and Ladbrokes have done likewise by pricing up the SPL title race without the big three.

Hibs are 7-4 but having lost the likes of Gary Caldwell and Derek Riordan I'd prefer Aberdeen at 11-4 although they could be pushed by 4-1 Killie. Inverness are 6-1, Motherwell 8-1, Dundee United 14-1 and Falkirk 16-1.

Champions Celtic are everybody's favourites to win the SPL but their friendly record doesn't inspire much confidence and if they don't improve quickly Rangers could take advantage.

Best price Celtic is evens with Skybet while Rangers are 5-4 with Paddy Power and Hill. Last season Hearts were 500-1 at this stage but after last season's heroics, they are a biggest 9-1 with Coral and Ladbrokes.

Taken from the Daily Record