After falling to their seventh successive defeat in the Premier League, West Bromwich Albion look destined to face the drop this season. They are seven points off safety, at rock bottom and Alan Pardew is not impressing the club hierarchy at the moment.
So it does not come as a surprise that they are already looking for alternatives and one name doing the rounds is Leicester City man Michael Appleton.
Appleton Makes Short-list To Replace Pardew:
According to reports from Telegraph, West Brom have already decided to show Pardew the door but are unable to strike a deal with any other manager, to take them to the end of the season. But they are determined to bring in a fresh face this summer and a few names have already been drawn.
While Brentford manager Dean Smith and Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes are both in contention for Pardew’s job but reports claim that Michael Appleton is one of the favourites to land the post this summer. Is he the right man for West Brom?
Appleton And His History:
Having worked himself up the ranks at Manchester United as a player, 42-year old Appleton spent stints with Wimbledon, Grimsby Town and Preston, before he ended his playing career at Hawthorns in 2003. Eight years later, he was first appointed as a caretaker manager for the Baggies where he did well enough to land other managerial jobs around England.
He has worked with the likes of Oxford United, Blackburn Rovers, Portsmouth and Blackpool before he was appointed as the assistant manager to Claudio Ranieri after the Foxes lifted the title in 2016. Just months later, he took over Ranieri as the caretaker of the club and did no harm to his reputation.
In his last stint as a manager of a club, Appleton spent three long years at Oxford United, amassing a win ratio of 45%, which is up there with the best in the division.
He has loads of experience in the Premier League and though is not an established manager, deserves the shot at taking charge of a top-flight club.
Right Man For West Brom?
The Baggies are not expected to make any managerial change before the end of the season and will vigorously look at options to replace Pardew in the summer. The names already mentioned are all attractive options for the club but Appleton, who played at Hawthorns before, has worked at King Power for long enough to have a positive effect on the squad at West Brom.
He may not be the best option available but the Baggies need a manager who can take his time and set up the legacy and Appleton fits the bill well. After a disastrous season, they might be tempted to search for a manager who can immediately impact, but that can easily backfire like it has in the past.
So do you think Appleton is the right man for West Brom?