UK football team's remarkable rise continues

The remarkable story that is the soaring Leicester City football club in the English Premier League continued this weekend when the dream team beat Southampton 1 vs. 0, consolidating its seven-point lead over Tottenham Hotspur at the top of the league table.

Online and land gambling group Ladbrokes said at the weekend that the gap between Leicester City (nicknamed the Foxes) and its nearest rival raises the prospect of an “unprecedented and expensive payout” by Brit bookmakers on bets already placed as the team continues to power its way to a maiden top-flight crown with just six games remaining.

Ladbrokes could be among the bookies hit – at the start of the season the company was offering odds of 5,000 to 1 on the Foxes winning the league.

David Williams of Ladbrokes said: “It would now be a major shock if Leicester don’t go on and lift the title. The impossible scenario has now become highly likely.”

Some punters have already been paid out by bookmakers, notably including one this weekend at Betfred who cashed for GBP 40,000 on a future wager made at 2000/1 odds at just GBP 20.

Betfred says it believes Tottenham can no longer catch Leicester in the title race.

Founder Fred Done said: “Today was a very significant win and Leicester have impressed me all season. I have a number of punters who incredibly backed the Foxes for fivers and tenners at very fancy prices and it will cost me a million pounds.

“I want those punters to get their dough now. I am delighted because Leicester have been an absolute breath of fresh air this season.”