Nathan Jones the favourite for Luton Town job despite Hatters board not welcoming applications

Former Luton Town manager Nathan Jones has been made favourite for the vacancy at Kenilworth Road by league sponsors SkyBet, despite the club insisting they are not currently accepting applications for the job.

The Hatters announced on Friday that Graeme Jones had left the club by mutual consent after just 11 months in charge as they look to reduce their cost base in the current financial plight caused by the coronavirus pandemic, which has seen the football season suspended indefinitely.

Gary Brabin, Inigio Idiakez and Imanol Etxeberria have left their positions in the backroom staff as well, with chief of recruitment Mick Harford acting as 'relationship manager between the board, staff and the playing squad on football matters.'

The club confirmed they were not seeking to make a new appointment for the time being with a statement saying: "When we have more concrete knowledge about the recommencement of the 2019-20 season or the start of 2020-21, we will then reconsider our position with regards to the football management structure.

"Meanwhile, applications for any of the positions will not be considered or reviewed at this time."

That hasn't stopped the book being opened though, with Jones, who had a successful three year spell in charge of the club from January 2016, leading Town to promotion from League Two, the new favourite at 1/3.

The 46-year-old controversially quit Kenilworth Road in January 2019 with Town locked in a promotion fight to reach the Championship, heading to Stoke City who were in the second tier themselves.

Jones had a tough 10 months at the bet 365 Stadium though, sacked in November with the Potters facing relegation to League One and has been out of work since, while such was the criticism he received for his decision to leave, it's unlikely he would be welcomed back by the vast majority of supporters.

Second favourite is a former Hatter, Steve Robinson, who is currently boss of Scottish Premier League side Motherwell, leading the club to third this term behind Celtic and Rangers, who is also being linked with the Northern Ireland vacancy, now Michael O'Neill has resigned from the post.

Harford himself is third favourite at 8/1, while Newport County boss Michael Flynn is 12/1.

Also in the group are Cheltenham Town chief Michael Duff (14/1), Wycombe Wanderers boss Gareth Ainsworth (16/1), former MK Dons and Exeter chief Paul Tisdale (16/1), ex-Leeds and Hibernian manager Paul Heckingbottom (18/1), plus one time Ipswich and Scunthorpe chief Paul Hurst (18/1).