Victor Chandler Offer Even Money the Last Edition of the News of the World Sells More Than 3 Million Copies

LONDON, July 8, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

The ongoing crisis at the News Of The World has prompted bookmakers Victor Chandler to open betting on several of the issues that are gripping the nation.

The question on everyone's lips is whether News International's chief executive Rebekah Brooks will remain in her position or not. It is odds on 2/5 that she leaves her post before the end of the month and 7/4 she survives.

"Brooks has been skating on thin ice all week and her personal silence has been deafening. The Murdoch's have stood by her but Brooks' position could become untenable if the public backlash continues. In our opinion it is unlikely she will still be in the post at the end of the month."   

The firm are also betting on how many copies will be sold of the last ever News Of The World on Sunday and VC spokesman Charlie McCann feels it will be more rather than less. The paper has averaged around 2.6 million copies in recent weeks.

"The News Of The World is a national institution and many people will buy the last edition as a collectors item. It also helps that the money will be going to good causes and many will buy it to see if they try and defend the indefensible." 

Another interesting twist is when News International will launch a version of the "Sun on Sunday" and VC feel it won't be that long. "The timing will be important. Murdoch knows that he can't leave it too late before he launches because he could end up losing many of his readers to his rivals. He also knows that if he launches too soon the closure of the News Of The World could be seen as a cynical ploy. It's a very delicate issue."

How Many Copies Will The News Of The World Sell On Sunday? Prices from victorchandler.com

Under 2 Million 7/1         

2,000,000 - 2,499,999 10/3           

2,500,000 - 2,999,999 13/5          

3 Million or above Evs           

Settled on the figures released by the Press Gazette.

Will Rebekah Brooks Leave Her Post Before 31st July 2011?

Yes 2/5          

No  7/4          

Rebekah Brooks must either resign, be sacked or suspended from her post as Chief Executive of News International before midnight on 31st July 2011

When Will The First Edition Of The New "Sun On Sunday" Be Launched?

31st July 2011 7/2          

7th August 2011 7/2           

3rd September 2011 or later 9/2           

24th July 2011 5/1           

14th August 2011 5/1           

21st August 2011 5/1           

28th August 2011 9/2           

17th July 2011 10/1           

Settled on the date on the 1st edition of the Sunday version of the Sun newspaper

Charlie McCann, Director of online Public Relations, VictorChandler.com