West Brom are said to be keen on a certain League One boss should the Baggies get relegated from the Premier League this summer.
A source from The Hawthorns outfit has told Football Insider that Lincoln City’s 45 year old manager Michael Appleton is ‘firmly in the frame’ to succeed ex-England boss Sam Allardyce.
Appleton is a former West Brom midfielder who remains highly thought of at the club after spending 10 years with them as a player and in various coaching roles.
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This included a temporary spell in caretaker charge following the sacking of Roberto Di Matteo back in 2011, before they then went with Roy Hodgson.
He won promotion from League Two and reached the Checkatrade Trophy Final (lost to Barnsley) in his second season with Oxford United back in 2016.
His third season saw him take the U’s to 8th in League One (four points short of the playoffs) and made another Checkatrade Trophy Final (lost to Coventry).
WEST BROM’S MANAGERS (LAST 10 YEARS)
Sam Allardyce – 16 Dec, 2020 until Present
Slaven Bilic – 13 Jun, 2019 until 16 Dec, 2020
James Shan – 09 Mar, 2019 until 13 Jun, 2019
Darren Moore – 02 Apr, 2018 until 09 Mar, 2019
Alan Pardew – 29 Nov, 2017 until 02 Apr, 2018
Gary Megson – 20 Nov, 2017 until 29 Nov, 2017
Tony Pulis – 02 Jan, 2015 until 20 Nov, 2017
Rob Kelly – 29 Dec, 2014 until 02 Jan, 2015
Alan Irvine – 14 Jun, 2014 until 29 Dec, 2014
Pepe Mel – 13 Jan, 2014 until 12 May, 2014
Keith Downing – 16 Dec, 2013 until 13 Jan, 2014
Steve Clarke – 25 Jun, 2012 until 15 Dec, 2013
Roy Hodgson – 14 Feb, 2011 until 15 May, 2012
Michael Appleton – 06 Feb, 2011 until 14 Feb, 2011
Roberto Di Matteo – 30 Jun, 2009 until 06 Feb, 2011
West Brom are braced for the likelihood of Allardyce leaving if the club’s great escape fails, currently sitting 19th in the Premier League table.
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He agreed a deal in December that runs for 18 months, although according to reports, it’s believed to include a break clause that can be triggered at the end of the 2020/21 season.
Neither party expect him to stay on and manage in the Championship should West Brom get relegated, something that looks more an more inevitable following Saturday’s defeat to Crystal Palace.
They are 10 points from safety now, taking 18 points from 29 games, Fulham sit above them with 26 points and just outside the relegation zone is Newcastle with 28 points, followed by Brighton with 29 points – the latter two clubs with a game in hand too.
The West Midlands club could become the first-ever relegation on Allardyce’s CV and now West Brom are keen on bringing in a League One boss in Michael Appleton – see who ‘Big Sam’ has previous managed below…
Limerick (player-manager) – 1991 until 1992 – 27 games, 14 wins, 10 draws, 3 defeats, 51.9 win %
Preston (caretaker) – 30 September 1992 until 30 November 1992 – 12 games, 3 wins, 4 draws, 5 defeats, 25.0 win %
Blackpool – 19 July 1994 until 29 May 1996 – 102 games, 44 wins, 23 draws, 35 defeats, 43.1 win %
Notts County – 16 January 1997 until 14 October 1999 – 145 games, 56 wins, 39 draws, 50 defeats, 38.6 win %
Bolton – 19 October 1999 until 29 April 2007 – 371 games, 153 wins, 104 draws, 114 defeats, 41.2 win %
Newcastle – 15 May 2007 until 9 January 2008 – 24 games, 8 wins, 6 draws, 10 defeats, 33.3 win %
Blackburn – 17 December 2008 until 13 December 2010 – 90 games, 32 wins, 24 draws, 34 defeats, 35.6 win %
West Ham – 1 June 2011 until 24 May 2015 – 181 games, 68 wins, 46 draws, 67 defeats, 37.6 win %
Sunderland – 9 October 2015 until 22 July 2016 – 31 games, 9 wins, 9 draws, 13 defeats, 29.0 win %
England – 22 July 2016 until 27 September 2016 – 1 game, 1 win, 0 draws, 0 defeats, 100.0 win %
Crystal Palace – 23 December 2016 until 23 May 2017 – 24 games, 9 wins, 3 draws, 12 defeats, 37.5 win %
Everton – 30 November 2017 until 16 May 2018 – 26 games, 10 wins, 7 draws, 9 defeats, 38.5 win %
West Brom – 16 December 2020 until Present – 17 games, 2 wins, 6 draws, 9 defeats, 11.8 win %
Total – 1,051 games, 409 wins, 281 draws, 361 defeats, 38.9 win %
Appleton has spent the last 18 months in charge of Lincoln, who are third in the League One table and well placed for promotion, though their home form is shocking and could hinder their chances.
He signed a new four-year contract last month that runs until 2025. Would he make the jump to his former club or will he stay loyal? After all we’ve seen a number of managers quitting League One for a job in the Championship.
Fans reacted with West Brom keen on bringing in League One boss Michael Appleton…
@AM_04_WBA: Appleton or McInnes for me. Or nuno when he walks away end of season
@Jay89R: So on a serious & non deluded note. Who do we think will be managing us the Championship? I’m guessing Wilder, Appleton & McInnes will be bookies favourites. Also who will be our biggest sales? SJ & perhaps Periera? Also we need to do absolutely everything to keep Okay #wba
@MattHalesowen: Wilder & Appleton are worth considering, although if Wilder left SU because they tried to impose a DOF onto him he won’t be interested. McInnes shouldn’t be anywhere near our radar. Wouldn’t mind Appleton personally.
@Jackalbion: I’ll nail my colours to the mast and say that we could do a whole lot worse than Allardyce in the Championship… We need someone who provides and engenders leadership in the Club, not another gamble on a previous player project like. McInnes or Appleton. #WBA
@mister_em79: Slav seemed to have no idea what to do other than sign the loanees who’d just dragged us over the line in a crap division. This is is a 2/ 3 year rebuild imo inc bringing youth prospects through. Needs a young manager to build, not BFS. Bowyer, Appleton someone like that.
@BaggieBirdd66: Michael Appleton and Steven Reid would be my choices.
@TomOConnell_WBA: Michael Appleton with Allerdyce as DOF.
@Jakewookey17: Derek Mccinnes worth a shout
@AdKido44: I’ve never agreed before but the fans touting for Michael Appleton I have to agree with. Loads of experience, still young and hungry, a WBA man who plays good football.
@JkrPaul: Why not Wilder? Good track record and perfect for the Championship. Not sure in our current position financially / owners who we could attract other than managers with emotional ties. mcinnes, Appleton etc #wba
@ForeverAYellow: Reckon they should go for Bilic lol oh wait…
@Albionmann: Wilder’s a great footballing person and would be an asset to #wba – His CV beats out Appleton and McInnes’ (who’d still be solid appointments). Don’t write him off because of one season – this guy loves proving people wrong, whether he’s at the Hawthorns or elsewhere.
@Matthill821: It’s too soon for Wilder, we need complete change before we can rebuild. New owners, technical director ect but until then we’re stuck without a plan. No long term vision to attract someone who marries that vision for the club going forward. We’re stuck with short term options.
Me, watching Derek McInnes and Michael Appleton being linked with the #WBA job. pic.twitter.com/tbB5xxn6Og
— NE (@nathe89) March 16, 2021
ON BIG SAM:
@MattS_121098: Do the right thing and announce departure immediately
@fgvwba1878: The next post best be a fucking corner flag, fair play to the photographer for finding one of him stood up
@Bod71: I got my thoughts….. fuckin go
@whitfield_phil: I’ve lost interest. Glad we’ve got an international break coming up, and I’ve never said that before
@joseph_wilks: From an outsider this isn’t his team. The recruitment in the summer from bilic was terrible. To think you spent 40 million etc on what average players? You have improved since January but it was too late. I dont think he’s the problem give him time (if he stays) and he builds
@andybaggie: Please leave!!!!
@BoggieBoys: sack that fat fucking shit
@Jabba1203: Would things have been this bad if Slaven was still in charge? and cant see Sam coaching in the championship
@wbawwwiiillll: Sack the fraud now
@ftblJackv2: here are my post match thoughts: Fuck off.
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