FOREST Green boss David Hockaday has emerged as one of the bookies favourites to takeover over his former club Swindon Town.

Hockaday, 55, represented the Robins more than 300 times over the course of a long and distinguished career in Wiltshire, during which he won promotion with the Robins from Division Four in 1985/86 and Division Three the following year.

His stock is understandably high after guiding Rovers to third in the table and just two points behind joint leaders Grmsby and Wrexham on 58 points.

However, Paolo Di Canio has emerged as Sky Bet's 15/8 favourite to be the next Swindon manager despite only vacating the position on Monday evening.

The Italian boss handed in his notice due to off-field problems with the club's sale failing to be confirmed, but is being backed to return to the County Ground with a takeover still in the pipeline.

Di Canio's former assistant Fabrizio Piccareta has been placed in temporary charge but is 12/1 to take the post on a permanent basis, while Mike Newell, Hockaday and Steven Pressley are all 5/1 having attracted some backing.

Sky Bet Football Trader Chris Spicer said: "We initially went out without Di Canio our list of candidates, with Mike Newell and Hockaday leading the betting, but were seeing little interest in the market.