Madeley: Appleton likely to be in West Brom frame if club relegated
Athletic journalist Steve Madeley has said that Lincoln City manager Michael Appleton is the most likely to take over from Sam Allardyce if West Brom are relegated.
Madeley was talking in a Mailbox on the Athletic and was asked the question by one Albion fan who said, “With relegation likely, are there any names that are being touted to replace Big Sam? Who would you like to see take over the hot seat at WBA for the major rebuild ahead?”
Madeley replied saying, “Assuming Sam Allardyce isn’t in charge of Albion next season, the obvious name in the frame would be Michael Appleton.
“He knows the club well, has worked previously with sporting and technical director Luke Dowling and has proven himself as a manager in both of his most recent assignments with Oxford United and Lincoln City.
“He would probably be my choice, too, as a man on an upward trajectory in his career who would arrive with a point to prove in the Championship, assuming that’s where Albion are.”
Perfect choice
We need to preface this by saying that we haven’t completely given up on West Brom staying in the Premier League.
There are naysayers everywhere and finding a pundit willing to say that we will survive is getting tougher by the match but there’s still hope.
The next four games, against Burnley, Brighton, Newcastle and Palace are key, and we need at least three wins from four.
That’s unlikely but not impossible.
If the worst happens, then we could definitely do a lot worse than Appleton.
Currently riding high at the top of League One, the 45-year-old knows the club well and is a very different proposition to Big Sam.
We think he would be a great choice and the fans are in favour of it too.
It would be a big step up in his career and the perfect time to manage West Brom, with parachute payments putting us at an advantage in the second tier.
In other West Brom news, View: West Brom handed potentially bad card for vital PL clash v Burnley