Michael Appleton calm on his future
Wednesday 20th April 2011, 3:45PM BST.
Albion assistant boss Michael Appleton has put all thoughts of his own future on hold as he focuses on the Baggies’ survival battle.
But Appleton insisted he would accept any changes in the backroom team and insisted he is not yet considering any events of the close season.
The former Hawthorns midfielder has been confirmed as Roy Hodgson’s right-hand man until the end of the season, with the coaching set-up set to be assessed in the summer.
Appleton said: “I’m not even thinking about it, to be honest. But I’m not trying to swerve the question in any way and obviously I’ll be very disappointed if it’s different and I’ll be delighted if it’s the same next season.
“All I can do is try to give it my best until the end of the season and the club will make a decision then.
“If they want to bring someone in, fine, I’ll get on with it like I always do. I’d be disappointed, of course I would.”
Appleton was promoted from his former first team coach’s role after Hodgson’s appointment and believes he is learning from the experienced head coach.
He said: “I pick things up every day. I think it’s on the training pitch more than anything.
“He’s got 30 years more experience than me and I’ve picked up little bits and pieces that he does.
“There’s been a couple of situations where, if it was me, I would have probably gone after the lads a little bit and given them a good rollicking.
“But he has gone in and has been a bit more calm and sensible and I’ve thought it was probably a good decision to handle it that way.
“Little things like that have helped me, because it will stand me in good stead for whatever I do in the future. Hopefully I will learn from the gaffer and take that on board.
“I’m asked to do a lot more stuff behind the scenes in terms of dealing with the players, pre-match meetings, post-match meetings, doing the background on all the teams we play.”
UK Sport
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