Pompey appoint Appleton

Portsmouth have confirmed that Michael Appleton has become their new manager, replacing Steve Cotterill at the Championship club’s helm.

The South coast side parted company with Cotterill, as he took up the managerial post at Nottingham Forest, leaving Pompey struggling in the lower reaches of the Championship.

Former Manchester United midfielder Appleton has excelled in his time at West Brom, acting firstly as Roberto Di Matteo’s assistant and recently fulfilling the same role under Roy Hodgson.

Appleton hopes to lead Pompey back to the English top flight and is looking forward to getting started in his new post.

“I’m delighted and excited to be taking the job and hopefully I can share that enthusiasm and excitement out around the club,” he told the club’s official website.

“It’s going to be a progressive challenge. You get judged on results and the first team is the most important thing, but we want to build the infrastructure of the club, developing the academy and hopefully along the line getting our own training ground. Things like recruitment will be key.

“Hopefully, with a sensible approach, we can take the club forward.

“It was very difficult to leave West Brom because I had spent nearly a third of my life there and had made a lot of good friends and worked with good people.

“But it was time for me to take on a different challenge, and this is one I’m really excited about.

“Portsmouth have fantastic traditions and the supporters are renowned throughout the football world for being very loud and getting behind the team. We want to give them something to shout about.

“A few years ago Portsmouth were a successful Premier League club. I would like to think I can help the people at the football club achieve that again,” he concluded.

Appleton has signed a three-and-a-half year deal, in what will be his first full managerial role.

By Gareth McKnight

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