FRENZIED media speculation has broken out about the Archbishop of York’s prospects of becoming the next Archbishop of Canterbury.

Dr John Sentamu has become the bookies’ favourite to take over when Dr Rowan Williams steps down at the end of the year, despite when asked on Friday if he wanted the job replying: “You can’t be serious.”

The Daily Mail online reported yesterday that senior insiders had questioned whether he was “up to the job...as bitter infighting broke out between rival factions”.

It claimed a “source close to Lambeth Palace” had said Dr Sentamu lacked the diplomatic skills for the top post.

The Independent reported that William Hill had placed odds of 6/4 on him taking over the role, while The Observer said Tory MPs were lobbying the Prime Minister to choose a “traditionalist” candidate, and favoured Dr Sentamu.

In his column in the Sun On Sunday, Dr Sentamu spoke of how he would miss Dr Williams, and claimed the Archbishop had been “much maligned by some people who should have known better”.