As speculation mounts around who will be the next manager of Tranmere Rovers, a familiar name has surprisingly risen to the top of the pile.

Hopes of an immediate return to League One for the Birkenhead club were dashed by Morecambe in the playoff semi-final on Sunday and with Keith Hill relieved of his duties a week earlier, attention now turns to who will be his permanent replacement.

And narrative of the story has taken a twist after Dundee United confirmed earlier today that former Tranmere boss Micky Mellon is to leave the Scottish Premiership club after just one season.

Mellon is Rovers' most successful manager of recent times, having guided Rovers back out of non-league football and into League One with two memorable promotions in two seasons.

And he is now the odds on favourite to make an unexpected return to the Prenton Park hot seat.

Current Hartlepool manager Dave Challinor, himself a former Tranmere player, has been the early favourite for the role, but Mellon's Dundee United departure has caused a sudden shift and it is the much-loved Scot who is now the odds-on favourite at 1/2, according to BetVictor.

Whether Mellon would actually entertain an emotional return to Rovers remains to be seen, however.

As a result Challinor is still competitively priced at 5/2.

Currently, there doesn't appear to be any strong candidates for the job apart from the Tranmere duo.

Ex-Liverpool star Robbie Fowler is priced as an outsider at 12/1 alongside John McGreal, who is also currently the odds-on favourite to be the next Swindon Town manager. 

Tranmere's interim boss Ian Dawes and assistant Andy Parkinson are currently both  considered as longshots at 16/1. 

Next Tranmere Rovers Manager odds from Bet Victor: 

  • Micky Mellon 1/2
  • Dave Challinor: 5/2
  • Robbie Fowler: 12/1
  • John McGreal: 12/1
  • Ian Dawes: 16/1
  • Andy Parkinson: 16/1
  • Marc Joyce: 20/1
  • Derek Adams:  20/1

You can view the full set of odds by clicking here.