FORMER Colchester United boss Paul Lambert is among the early favourites to take over at League One side Cambridge United, according to the bookies.

The ex-Colchester boss, who managed the club between 2008 and 2009 and has also had spells in charge at Ipswich Town, Aston Villa, Stoke City, Wolves, Norwich City and Wycombe Wanderers, is in the running at 10/1 after a stint away from the game.

Fellow ex-U's manager and current Wycombe boss Matt Bloomfield is also in contention at 10/1 for the Cambridge job according to BonusCodeBets, who have made Danny Cowley the early 7/2 favourite to become the club’s next boss.

READ MORE: Matty Etherington's verdict on Colchester defeat at Doncaster

Cambridge sacked head coach Bonner following last night's 3-0 home defeat to Lincoln.

United have lost three straight games and dropped to 18th place in League One, prompting the decision to part company with a man who has been at the club in various roles since 2011, taking full charge of the first team in 2020 and guiding them to promotion to League One in his first full season.

 

In September the 38-year-old signed a new contract with his side riding high in sixth place, but there has been a considerable loss of form since.

Majority owner Paul Barry said on the club's website: "I want to start by simply saying this - Mark Bonner will rightly go down as one of the most important people in the history of Cambridge United Football Club.

"All of us - owners, board, staff, players and fans - know how lucky we have been to have him and how hard this decision has been."

Next Cambridge United manager odds: Danny Cowley 7/2, Dean Holden 4/1, Leam Richardson 5/1, Matt Taylor 5/1, Gareth Ainsworth 7/1, Steve Cotterill 7/1, Karl Robinson 7/1, Paul Lambert 10/1, Matt Bloomfield 10/1, Joey Barton 10/1, Ian Cathro 10/1, Billy Davies 25/1, Alex McLeish 25/1, Neil Warnock 50/1.