Following the departure of Steve Cotterill to Championship rivals Nottingham Forest, Portsmouth have finally confirmed the latest appointment on the managerial merry-go round by naming West Brom First Team Coach Michael Appleton as Cotterill’s successor.

The 35 year old Appleton has signed a three and a half year deal at Fratton Park to secure his first ever managerial job and seems to have been the right man at the right time for a club who are rebuilding following their much publicised financial difficulties in recent years.

The inexperienced Appleton’s appointment is not one to be sneered at. At only 35 he may not have been the most experienced candidate for the role but what he lacks in experience he makes up for in desire. This is a man who battled injury for most of his promising playing career and finally had to retire due to cruciate ligament damage.