SUPER League sponsors Betfred have suspended betting on who will replace Kristian Woolf as St Helens' next head coach.

Assistant Paul Wellens has been annointed by Woolf as his successor - even though the club have said they will not make an announcement on the position until the conclusion of the season.

In his Star Betfred column this week Saints legend Paul Sculthorpe backed his former teammate to step up to the job.

He writes: "For me there’s only one man for the job...Paul Wellens.

"Wello is an outstanding coach, a student of the game and more importantly a very ,very well respected person to those he has worked with.

"He has more than served his time as a number two, both at club and country level working alongside some of the best coaches in the game.

"Aside from St Helens, he's worked with Wayne Bennett, Shaun Wane, Steve McNamara and Tony Smith to name a few.

"I just hope the Saints faithful give him that chance too. We all know the last time a former player, a club great, an absolute hero within the town, Keiron Cunningham took the reins and it didn’t work out.

St Helens Star: SWpix.comSWpix.com (Image: SWpix.com)

"Paul Wellens is a totally different coach, and let’s not forget dealing with a totally different team than Kez had at the time.

"Wello has been an integral part of the three-peat success and for me has earned the shot at the top job."

The Betfred market has been suspended after hundreds of bets were placed on Wellens and that there are no more bets.