Portsmouth manager Michael Appleton has been heavily linked with the vacant managerial post at West Bromwich Albion ever since Roy Hodgson agreed to become England coach, but despite odds being heavily slashed by bookies, Pompey fans are confident he’s not going anyway.
Although Birmingham City boss Chris Hughton has been installed as the bookies’ favourite to succeed Hodgson, the Pompey boss’s odds have been slashed from 10/1 last week to as little as 5/2 with Ladbrokes – and a clear second-favourite in the running.
Despite the large slashing of odds by bookmakers, Hughton remains favourite and has gone odds-on with many of the bookies, whilst Pompey fans remain confident of Appleton’s stay.
The former West Brom coach joined Portsmouth in November last year and has impressed many despite suffering relegation at the end of the season. However, relegation can’t be blamed on the boss, after suffering a 10-point deduction for entering administration and having to loan-out most of his key players, Appleton patched together a young but skillful side who gave 110% to the Pompey cause.
Because of this, Appleton has been touted as a promising young manager, and having warmed to Appleton during both his playing days and coaching years at the Hawthornes, West Brom fans are keen to have him back, but the general consensus among Pompey fans still seems to be that he’ll stay, and West Brom will probably go for someone more experienced.
We spoke to a few of you on Facebook and Twitter and here’s what you had to say:
Den Miller: “No, WBA will go for someone with loads more experience than Appy has.”
Mr Libertine: “Can’t imagine we’d get many applicants to replace him at this stage. If he goes could be curtains.”
Ben Mills: “I gave up worrying a long time ago and realised things are mainly a formality these days.”
Ian Limb: “Nope, give it to Guy (Whittingham).”
Josh Coles: “Nah. 2+2=5.”
Mark and Mel Hutchinson: “No. More worried about having a club in a month’s time.”
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Wrong, Wrong, Wrong! West Brom fans, although having a soft spot for Appie, have no wish whatsoever to have him as our manager. The reducing odds are coming from punters that know nothing of the internal workings of B41.
Posted by Simon a Baggie | May 15, 2012, 14:40Thanks Simon. Did wonder why we were hearing West Brom fans keen on Appy, must’ve been a minority. Cheers
Posted by Pompey Pages | May 15, 2012, 15:20