Pompey eye Appleton move

Skysports.com understands West Brom assistant boss Michael Appleton is leading the race for the vacant manager's job at Portsmouth.

Baggies assistant looks set to replace Cotterill

Skysports.com understands West Brom assistant manager Michael Appleton is leading the race for the vacant manager's job at Portsmouth. Pompey have been searching for a new manager after seeing Steve Cotterill leave Fratton Park for Nottingham Forest last month. Sean O'Driscoll was thought to be the front-runner to fill the role after holding a couple of interviews at Fratton Park and being spotted at Portsmouth's game at Derby last weekend. However, it appears Portsmouth have now turned to Appleton to take the reins on the South Coast. Appleton has established himself as one of the best young coaches in the country after impressing with the Baggies. The former Manchester United midfielder was appointed first-team coach at West Brom in June 2009 and took charge of first-team affairs when Roberto Di Matteo left the club in February 2011. Hawthorns boss Roy Hodgson kept Appleton as part of his backroom team when he replaced Di Matteo and the pair guided the Baggies to safety in the Premier League last season.