Hughes favourite for Fulham

Former Manchester City and Blackburn boss Mark Hughes has firmed in favouritism to land the vacant manager's job at English Premier League club Fulham.

The Cottagers are without a manager after Roy Hodgson left them for Liverpool and are eager to appoint a replacement with just over two weeks until the start of the season.

Several UK betting agencies have recently slashed Hughes' odds to take over at Fulham with William Hill installing him as a $A1.25 favourite.

According to British paper The Mail Hughes is close to being unveiled as the new Fulham boss despite former England manager Sven Goran-Eriksson and former Italy boss Roberto Donadoni also being linked.

Fulham was close to securing the services of Dutchman Martin Jol last week but his Eredivisie side Ajax Amsterdam blocked the move, sending owner Mohammed Al Fayed back to the drawing board.

But Fulham may have found its man in Hughes - who was tipped as one of the brightest managerial talents in the game after he took Blackburn to three-top half finishes in his tenure at Ewood Park.

The 46-year-old had early success at Manchester City but a run of seven draws, combined with City's impatient owners was enough to see him sacked in December last year.

If Hughes is appointed, he will have limited time available to assess his squad and sign players before the Cottagers' season-opener at the Reebok Stadium against Bolton on August 14.