According to the bookmakers, the former Doncaster Rovers and Hull City boss is now third favourite to be appointed at the League One club, who sacked Danny Cowley on Monday.

Anthony Barry is the current favourite, with the former Fleetwood Town and Wrexham defender currently an assistant coach at Chelsea and Belgium. Leam Richardson had been made the early favourite following’s Cowley’s dismissal with the former Wigan Athletic chief now second in the betting.

Other leading names include Lee Bradbury and Chris Wilder. On Wednesday, Peterborough sacked McCann, with Darren Ferguson returning until the end of the season for a fourth spell in charge.

SALFORD, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 16: Grant McCann, Manager of Peterborough United reacts during the Emirates FA Cup First Round Replay match between Salford City and Peterborough United at Peninsula Stadium on November 16, 2022 in Salford, England. (Photo by Charlotte Tattersall/Getty Images)

Eighth-placed Posh had lost five of their last seven league games to leave themselves trailing the play-off pack by five points, and have won just once in the league since October. McCann was handed his second stint at the Peterborough helm in February 2022 after leaving Hull but despite an upswing in form could not prevent the club from being relegated from the Championship last season.

Assistant manager Cliff Byrne also left the club. Chairman Darragh MacAnthony said: “Grant and Cliff have been very professional throughout their time with the football club. Sometimes in football, it just hasn’t worked out.

“With the squad that we have, at the beginning of January, where we are in the league table is not where we expected and we feel if we are going to give ourselves a chance of a promotion run, now is the time to make that change.

“After watching us lose 3-0 at home [to Wycombe] on New Year’s Day, that hammered home what kind of run we have been on, one win in 10 weeks and that is just not going to cut it. We have high expectations, and those high expectations will continue.”

Portsmouth face a huge FA Cup tie against Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday before returning to league action against Bolton Wanderers the following weekend.

Next Portsmouth manager odds (correct as of January 6, 2023, 9.20am)

Anthony Barry – 2/1

Leam Richardson – 5/1

Grant McCann – 6/1

Lee Bradbury – 8/1

Chris Wilder – 8/1

Liam Manning – 10/1

Sam Allardyce – 12/1

Darrell Clarke – 14/1

Neil Warnock – 16/1

Lee Bowyer – 16/1

Next Portsmouth manager: New favourite emerges as ex-Hull City and Doncaster Rovers chief in the running alongside former Sheffield United and Middlesbrough man