Pressure on Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri turned up another notch following Tuesday night's surrender at Bournemouth.
Sarri locked his backroom staff out of the changing rooms after the 4-0 drubbing at the Vitality Stadium for an hour-long inquest with his players.
The manner of the defeat means that Chelsea drop out of the top four and below London rivals Arsenal by virtue of goals scored - with new signing Gonzalo Higuain drawing a blank on his league debut.
Odds on the Italian getting the sack have been slashed by Paddy Power to 2/1 - in from 16/1 before the hammering at the hands of the Cherries.
His assistant and club legend Gianfranco Zola is the early 5/2 favourite to succeed him in the hot seat.
Spokesman Paddy Power said: “It seems Sarri-ball is not the way forward at Chelsea, who were humiliated by Bournemouth last night.
“We’ve seen plenty of cash on him to be sacked soon, with Frank Lampard currently our most likely candidate to succeed him in the betting.â€
Read also: Hazard can leave Chelsea if he wants, says Sarri
Next permanent Chelsea manager
5/2 Gianfranco Zola
7/2 Frank Lampard
9/1 Diego Simeone
12/1 Max Allegri
12/1 Brendan Rodgers
14/1 Luis Enrique
Source: Mirror