Former Carlisle United manager Nigel Pearson is a big mover in the betting market for the Blues' next head coach.

The man whose managerial career famously started at Brunton Park back in 1998/99 has risen to 5/1.

Pearson, 61, is now third favourite behind new odds-on favourite Leam Richardson, who is 1/3, and previous bookies' favourite Rob Elliott, who is now 4/1.

The vastly experienced Pearson, who was in charge at United on the day Jimmy Glass scored his famous goal to keep the Blues in the Football League, was last in management at Bristol City from 2021 to 2023.

Speaking earlier this year, though, Pearson played down the idea that he could be a "head coach" in his next job.

Commenting about his potential next move following his Bristol City sacking, Pearson told the 'No Tippy Tappy Football' podcast with Sam Allardyce: "It depends what people want, I suppose.

"I’m a manager. I’m a football manager. I can coach and I do coach but I’m a football manager and I’m not really a head coach.

“The fad at the moment seems to be, 'Let’s get a younger coach'. Is football suffering with a bit of ageism? Maybe.

"But the most important thing for me is to make sure that, firstly, I spend enough time looking after myself to make sure that, if an opportunity comes along that I want to take, that I’m ready for it."

He added: “I’m sure there will be an opportunity at some point and when that comes I want to enjoy the challenge and I want to be able to do the job well and be successful."

Pearson said he "likes to be part of a team of people that want to do something" but said he had "no idea" what his next job would look like.

"I'm always willing to take on something that is a little bit out of the ordinary, that's a challenge," he added. "I'm not someone who just wants to take an easy job on.

"It'll interest me the next job I take, if I take one." Pearson also told the podcast in April he was focusing on his health after back and neurological problems, but was "slowly getting better."

Former Wigan Athletic and Rotherham United boss Richardson was installed as odds-on favourite on Thursday night and his price has further reduced in BetVictor's latest odds.

He is also 1/2 with Betano, with Elliot 2/1 and Pearson still a 33/1 outsider with that particular bookmaker.

Former favourite Ryan Lowe is now 20/1 with BetVictor and 8/1 with Betano.

United are progressing with talks to appoint a new head coach and a sporting director. Caretakers Steven Rudd, Jamie Devitt and Mark Birch remain in interim charge ahead of this weekend's home clash with Fleetwood Town.