VILLAGERS in the sleepy home town of new Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers raked in a fortune by backing him for the job. Shocked bookies suspected a leak and suspended betting on him after a string of big-money punts, despite the then Swansea chief being a 10-1 outsider.
A Daily Star Sunday investigation can reveal more than £100,000 was wagered from the small village of Carnlough and neighbouring Larne in County Antrim, Northern Ireland.
And delighted locals were celebrating a monster payout when their hero Rodgers – nicknamed Fudgey – was named the new Kop boss.
The betting sensation has now prompted claims that punters had inside information that Rodgers, 39, had been offered and accepted the Liverpool job.
Shortly after 3pm last Saturday, Northern Irish bookies slashed odds dramatically as a flurry of bets came in for Rodgers – before closing the betting. McLeans bookies cashier Laura Gribben, 32, who works in the Larne branch, said: “We stopped laying bets on Rodgers on Saturday because everyone was wanting to get hundreds on him. “A rumour that he had got the job spread like wildfire. My dad and his mates even got a bet on it.”
Nearby betting shop Toals also suspended betting.
The rumour is said to have started at McAuley’s pub, where Rodgers’ brother Declan runs the Cheyennes disco upstairs, where Brendan used to dance.
Barmaid Ciodhna McCormick said: “All the lads in the pub backed Fudgey last Saturday.”
Rodgers was an outsider, having turned down Liverpool’s approach to talk to him when the heavy punts were laid.
One bookmaker said: “It started around 3pm on Saturday.
“Out of nowhere we were seeing big bets being placed online and over the phone – and every one of them was from Carnlough or the surrounding areas. He added: “It was only when I got texts from contacts at other bookmakers that we realised this was Rodgers’ home town. That was when we started to panic and had no choice but to keep chopping the price. “Seven-to-one, 9-2, 3-1, 2-1, evens – but the money kept coming.
“You’d see the surnames cropping up too, entire families were lumping on. When you see a pattern like that you presume there’s inside info going round and it looks like they had.”
Never look at those markets myself , and I assume that the only reason anyone has a bet on them is because they have heard something .
Not many bookies shops in or around Carnlough direction , Larne or Ballymena the nearest decent sized towns .
Trust it helps the local economy .Never look at those markets myself , and I assume that the only reason anyone has a bet on them is because they have heard something .Not many bookies shops in or around Carnlough direction , Larne or Ballymena the n
Nothing like that amount would be allowed on that market and the minute they saw a pattern develop, they would have suspended betting.
It is a garbage story.Nothing like that amount would be allowed on that market and the minute they saw a pattern develop, they would have suspended betting.
I don't think you are seen things right here. It's true and maybe a lot more. I know one bookie who laid 10k between 5/1-3/1 and laid off a couple of grand on here at 10s down to 6s.
I don't think you are seen things right here. It's true and maybe a lot more. I know one bookie who laid 10k between 5/1-3/1 and laid off a couple of grand on here at 10s down to 6s.
Why is it cheating if you have more information than the bookies?
If the bookies are aware that a horse worked badly and lengthen his odds are they also cheating?
Why is it cheating if you have more information than the bookies?If the bookies are aware that a horse worked badly and lengthen his odds are they also cheating?
A bet is not a bet if the outcome is already decided...i .e there must be a possibility it can win or lose. If bookmakers took the bets -they took them in good faith But they were not legitimate bets. I can't have much regard for someone who tries to take money from their independent local bookie in this manner . I'm afraid I can't see it as anything else other than cheating. The bookies' naivete or fallibility is neither here nor there. There is a key difference between having more information before the event and having the information that the event has been decided.
A bet is not a bet if the outcome is already decided...i .e there must be a possibility it can win or lose.If bookmakers took the bets -they took them in good faith But they were not legitimate bets.I can't have much regard for someone who tries to
I assumed from the tenor of the first post that when big bets started coming suddenly from Carnlough that some people had certain knowledge of the deal being done and that others who might n bet on such matters jumped on the bandwagon. It all hinges on that -if it was not known that the deal was concluded then the bets are legitimate. It is nonetheless inaccurate to describe this sequence of activities as a 'coup'. Bringing off a coup implies some planning and organisation on the part of the bettors. This consideration did not apply here.
I assumed from the tenor of the first post that when big bets started coming suddenly from Carnlough that some people had certain knowledge of the deal being done and that others who might n bet on such matters jumped on the bandwagon.It all hinges
I'd say the figure of 100K won and not may be closer to reality and the Star pin it as wagered and claim ignorance on betting parlance if called up on it (anyway it wouldn't be the first time the press or a bookamker tried to exaggerate winnings for punters. I am only willing to accept that 100k won is feasible on the grounds that it was a settled market with a few already backed and there was an opportunity to lay someone else.
You can have money on these markets but not at 10/1 more like sub 2/1.
A good story none the less despite the unrealistic embellishments by the daily star and Anaglogs
I'd say the figure of 100K won and not may be closer to reality and the Star pin it as wagered and claim ignorance on betting parlance if called up on it (anyway it wouldn't be the first time the press or a bookamker tried to exaggerate winnings for
These manager markets have proved a huge money spinner for bookies,new green punters with no understanding of odds backing everyone.When the market for the Irish soccer manager was in full flow i received a call from a friend saying Didier Deschamps had got the job and could i back him in Nenagh for him,i went in to a few shops saw him at 4/5 went to another he was 1/2 i refused to deal at those prices rang him and told him,he was disgusted saying any price is a good price.He thought he knew but he was wrong and lost around eight grand,it transpired someone saw Deschamps going in for an interview with the FAI and assumed it was a done deal. Were the bookies cheating by taking my mates money?
These manager markets have proved a huge money spinner for bookies,new green punters with no understanding of odds backing everyone.When the market for the Irish soccer manager was in full flow i received a call from a friend saying Didier Deschamps
Oh the Next Manager Market...... Just a case of believing nothing and laying accordingly to your set liability. As soon as two have been below your chosen market price, (below even money in my case), you are usually makin clover. You think the majors were not laying all these sneaky "in the know" patches....a glut of money from a home town of one of the runners wont raise an alarm bell eh.....
Oh the Next Manager Market...... Just a case of believing nothing and laying accordingly to your set liability. As soon as two have been below your chosen market price, (below even money in my case), you are usually makin clover. You think the majors