Bookie’s odds on dead footie star

A BOOKMAKER has apologised for offering odds on dead ex-footballer Ugo Ehiogu becoming a manager.

Paddy Power briefly gave 66/1 on the ex-Aston Villa defender taking over at Birmingham City following Harry Redknapp’s sacking. But Ehiogu died after suffering a cardiac arrest in April, aged 44, while working as a coach for Tottenham.

Ehiogu’s inclusion among candidates for the Birmingham job provoked anger on social media.

Tom Wainwright said it was “sick” while fellow Twitter user David Kelly slammed “pretty poor taste”.

Paddy Power said: “This was a genuine error rectified as soon as it was spotted.” It added: “An old market was used as a template and we didn’t see Mr Ehiogu was on it.”