Michael Appleton thanks West Brom boss Roy Hodgson from Pompey

Friday 11th November 2011, 9:29AM GMT.

Michael Appleton thanks West Brom boss Roy Hodgson from Pompey

Michael Appleton today thanked West Brom boss Roy Hodgson for giving him the springboard to become Portsmouth’s new manager.

Appleton started work at Pompey today after being unveiled as Steve Cotterill’s successor yesterday.

And the former Baggies assistant boss admitted it was tough to say goodbye to the club he first joined as a player more than a decade ago, before rising through the Hawthorns coaching ranks.

He said: “It was difficult to leave,” he admitted. “I spent almost 11 years at the club – it would have been 11 years in January.

“I remember turning up in 2001 as a player and then for reasons everybody knows, with my injury, I had to go down a different route and go into the coaching side.

“I have worked under a lot of good managers and Roy gave me the opportunity to work with him as his assistant in the Premier League over the last nine months or so.”

Read the full story in today’s Express & Star


  1. 1
    Forever Albion

    Wishing you all the best Appy & hope you make a tremendous success of bringing Pompey back to the Premiership but not at our expense. Wonder if this is not the first Managerial exit with the Irish job possibly becoming up for grabs, would just suit Roy perfectly! No talk of extending his contract from the Club.

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  2. 2
    General Jim

    Wish you the best Appy but I think you’ll be returning as our head coach at some point.

    Report abuse

  3. 3
    sherlock

    Appy, won’t you please reconsider this me old pal? only, you see, according to half the baggie people on the other thread, your departure means we’re doomed! DOOMED, I TELL THEE, DOOMED!!

    sarcasm aside, good luck mate, and cheers for the decade-and-a-bit service…

    Report abuse

  4. 4
    smethwick baggie

    Good luck to him. I think his departure paves the way for McInnes to take over at some point in the future, when RH goes, because let’s face it, he’s not with us long term is he?

    Report abuse

  5. 5
    B90 baggie

    3, Sherlock – remember not only are we now doomed but all the players, coaching staff, board, catering staff, stewards and match day announcer HATE Hodgson and can’t wait to see the back of him!!… FACT! (…apparently).

    We will have a good season this season I reacon, top midlands club and no risk of going down. I would far rather have a manager like Hodgson than McLeish or McCarthy, surely that’s a no brainer?

    Let’s get back to supporting our club, that’s what being a supporter is all about!!

    Report abuse

  6. 6
    Rocky Volcano

    Good luck to skeletor.

    Our loss is pompeys gain.

    Im worried that now he has left then unless Roy gets a good coach in along side him then he is gonna be found tactically wanting like he has for most of this season

    I fear the worse for the baggies

    Report abuse

  7. 7
    sherlock

    B90

    well said sir! good to see some positivity on here. nothing but whining since the defeats to liverpool and arsenal, almost as though the two derby wins were decades ago

    i also reckon we’ll turn a corner soon, but some people seem to forget how hard this league is, and that every time you do turn a corner (e.g. wolves and villa wins) there’s someone like liverpool and arsenal waiting around that corner to stick you back on the seat of your pants!

    Report abuse

  8. 8
    SUSAN

    Roy will go to in january just like those before him when hes told theres no money.

    Report abuse

  9. 9
    Jack the Hat.

    Worrow guys,
    Afraid my computer is in hospital having major surgery. Her hard drive has given up the ghost. My son has been over and dug out an old one I’d forgotten I had. After blowing away the dust and cobwebs, he was able to breath some life into it. I am not bothering to fine tune everything for just a few days (So get in there Dingles whilst you can still copy my nom de guerre), so this will do until A1 returns as fit as a fiddle. Can’t wait to back-track to find out which Dingles have posted about my absence. If I were a betting man I would be a few thousand in pocket, no doubt.

    Appy,
    Congratulations on your new Position as Portsmouth No.1. Every success and thanks for the tireless work you have put in for the ALBION cause. So long, Tough Nut.

    BOING~~~~BOING~~~~JtH.

    Report abuse

  10. 10
    SUSAN

    i keep telling everbdy theres no money and all the players are hopeless and nobodys talking to me but i know what im talking about cause im cleverer than you all and im not as stupid as you say so stop laughing at me.

    Report abuse

  11. 11
    SUSAN

    9 sorry to disapoint you Jack but you not been missed at all infact no one as aked about you,but as i keep sating they only look after themselves on here.

    10 must be awful not having your own post printed so you got to use someones name who really is clever.

    Report abuse

  12. 12
    Shropshirebaggie

    Best of luck Appy, thanks for everything.

    Boing Boing!!

    Report abuse

  13. 13
    DELIA LEN

    Robin Britain who exactly are you,where are you,lets be having you.

    Report abuse

  14. 14
    SUSAN

    im the real susan,the other one isnt real but i am because my real name is susan stop laughing at me.

    Report abuse

  15. 15
    kev in mallorca

    Rocky Volcano
    I’ll bet yo sit on your own in the pub dow ya?

    Report abuse

  16. 16
    Shropshirebaggie

    Susan, you miss him that little you felt the need to post 3 times after his post. You really are a 24 carrot plonker!

    Boing Boing!!

    Report abuse

  17. 17
    kev in mallorca

    Shropshirebaggie
    I wondered how long it would be before somebody broke ranks,leave the idiots in their sad little worlds son, eventually go away,even Warren resisted.
    Adeu

    Report abuse

  18. 18
    CantelloRocket 78

    17 Kev,

    I’ve replied to this idiot in the past so that any newcomers know who he is,but I’m now blanking him out.
    He now seems to be arguing with himself,a pathetic and sad case who needs to get a life.

    See you next month,

    Adeu.

    Report abuse

  19. 19
    Shropshirebaggie

    Sorry Kev, point taken I will do in future.

    Boing Boing!!

    Report abuse



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