Pompey talks on Michael Appleton continue

Albion will not rush to replace Michael Appleton if their assistant boss leaves to become Portsmouth's new manager.

Negotiations were continuing today with Pompey keen to appoint the former Hawthorns midfielder as Steve Cotterill's successor at Fratton Park.

And Baggies boss Roy Hodgson is happy to press on for the time being with first-team coach Keith Downing and goalkeeping coach Dean Kiely if Appleton heads south.

"It's a recent event," said Hodgson. "Michael was at Arsenal on Saturday and was helping me to prepare for the game too. "If anything happens then it will happen soon I would imagine and there is no guarantee there will be any contingency plans. The chances are that if it happens we will carry on in the interim period with the people we have – myself, Keith Downing and Dean Kiely.

"We have no game looming but we will use these next two weeks preparing and getting ready for the Bolton game, and putting these last two defeats behind us."