New Rovers boss has taken a risk with switch

7:46am Monday 14th January 2013 in Football Photograph of the Author By Andy Cryer, Blackburn Rovers reporter

WORKING for Venky’s would be seen by many as your worst nightmare after the Blackburn Rovers’ owners have overseen a farcical two-and-a-half year regime.

Eyebrows were raised when Henning Berg accepted the managerial post in November – having just months previously stated no ‘credible manager’ would want the role – and sure enough his words came back to haunt him after being fired just 10 games in.

With a power divide in the boardroom, a set of frustrated and split supporters, tumbling crowds and almost non-existent owners, the Ewood Park hot seat is hardly one which many contenders would come running to fill.

Even the people who have managed to instil a bit of a calm into proceedings have been treated poorly.

Assistant manager Eric Black and coaches Bobby Mimms and Iain Brunskill learned they had been fired by watching Sky Sports, and recent – and very successful – caretaker duo Gary Bowyer and Terry McPhillips also kept updated of their fates via the media.

There can be surely be few less appealing jobs in the top two divisions.

So forget asking why Rovers have again moved for a relatively inexperienced manager – a question many have been asking over the past few days – is why Michael Appleton has risked his early managerial reputation with a move to Ewood Park.

Leaving Blackpool just nine weeks after being appointed their manager suggests he still sees something to work with.

Of course, doubling his wages helped the decision but the last few results, the money spent by Venky’s and the quality individuals in the squad look to have tipped the scales. It is not as though Appleton is a stranger to doing things the hard way. From having his playing career cut short through injury to cutting his teeth in management at Portsmouth – a club that made even working for Venky’s look okay – the 37-year-old has already shown he won’t shirk a challenge.

After being forced to retire at the age of 27, Appleton worked his way through the coaching ranks at West Brom, before being handed his first managerial job at Portsmouth in November 10 2011. By the end of the month the club's parent company CSI were in administration and in February the club followed.

A glance at the stats would suggest his managerial record is far from impressive. After all, no manager wants a Championship relegation on his CV and that is just what happened to Appleton when Pompey suffered the drop at the end of that season.

The fact he remains a favourite among the Fratton Park faithful is proof there is far more to the story though. Dealing with a 10 point deduction, a cash crisis, the loss of key players and club employees regularly not getting paid, he actually almost pulled off the miracle.

The manner in which he handled himself in the face of such adversity only served to win him more admirers.

His subsequent Fratton Park exit was only a matter of time.

He got what many saw as his big break when he was named Ian Holloway’s successor at Blackpool. A little more than two months later and he walked out.

The reaction of many Blackpool supporters to his exit is one of indifference.

A lot were satisfied with the performances under him but just two wins from 11 games – albeit drawing seven – he was hardly setting the world on fire. It is a record many Rovers fans are well aware of.

He has certainly learnt from the best, having started his playing career at his boyhood idols Manchester United.

Growing up in Salford, scouts first spotted his talent when he was playing as a junior for Barr Hill and his beloved Reds took him under their wing when he was just 10. Six years later he was signing youth forms at Old Trafford.

Appleton played twice for United under Sir Alex Ferguson before moving to Preston for £500,000 in August 1997. He made more than 100 appearances for North End, including a key role in the Lilywhites’ promotion to the second tier.

In January 2001, he moved to West Brom for £750,000 and was a regular until he tore posterior cruciate ligaments in his right knee after an accidental training ground collision with team-mate Des Lyttle.

The moment was initially supposed to keep him out of action for the rest of the season.

It ultimately sparked a two-year rehabilitation process, premature retirement at 27 and and the suing for £1.5m of the surgeon who wrongly operated on his right knee.

So when people question whether Michael Appleton knows what he has let himself in, it is pretty safe to assume working under some controversial owners won’t daunt him.

Comments(30)

greenscreener says...
7:57am Mon 14 Jan 13

If it works he's a legend who can name his price, if it doesn't he pockets £1m lie Berg and Kean ?

Wouldn't mind a gamble like that myself.

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pistols blue says...
8:09am Mon 14 Jan 13

Well if this appointment goes wrong , who do we get next. The nightmare will continue until these fraudsters sell up. To me the club has gone. Even the fans have split in two now. Most of the better players are gone or want to leave this circus and who can blame them. I cant see why venkys want to own this club at all. They have totally ruined this great club. Watching Rovers play Wolves the other night was painful. The whole team dont look organised, no disrespect to team GB, i think they have worked wonders last few weeks but you could see with another new manager taking over a day later you could see the players just didnt seem interested. When will this end?.

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8 Ball Deluxe says...
8:12am Mon 14 Jan 13

I don't think he's taken much of a risk, you are forgetting that venkys refused to sack steve kean even though he was the worst manager weve ever had. The guy had to resign he was that embarrassed he hadn't been sacked. Also rumours of a two nad a half year contract that dwarfed his one at Blackpool makes it so he doesn't even have to be successful and he will still get payed up. No risk there then.
Just hope he gets the results to get us out of here otherwise we'll get stuck.

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BRFC75 says...
8:29am Mon 14 Jan 13

If it comes down to desire and managerial effort , Appleton is well worth getting behind.
Question is this < Was it Shaw that made the decision and went ahead and appointed Appleton ?
AND NOT the Singh/ Hendry combo ?

If it was Singh/Hendry who went after Appleton the papers would be full of quotes and comments like "Appleton ticks all the boxes"
Every prospective manager that Singh went for in the past we have been inundated with continual quotes from Hendry on Kean/Black/Berg and McKinlay ,Sherwood, all the same quotes /statements "Kean/Black/Berg/McK
inley /Sherwood TICKS ALL THE RIGHT BOXES !
No quote or comment yet on Appleton so clearly HE DOES NOT tick all the boxes for the Singh/Hendry pair ,maybe when they quote a prospective manager and they say he ticks all the boxes maybe that means (MY JOB WILL BE SAFE WITH THIS GUY ) that is really what TICK ALL THE RIGHT BOXES REALLY MEANS.
Good Luck Michael Appleton full backing and support AND we are glad the bludgers are not saying you tick all the right boxes because we know what it really means.

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Balti Towers says...
8:47am Mon 14 Jan 13

"It ultimately sparked a two-year rehabilitation process, premature retirement at 27 and and the suing for £1.5m of the surgeon who wrongly operated on his right knee"

Ooops...wrong knee!!

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lusorover says...
8:51am Mon 14 Jan 13

Sounds like a good man to have on your side in a crisis and, let's face it, that's still pretty much the situation as far as most of us fans are concerned.

Perhaps we were never going to get that 'experienced' manager that we all wanted so let's get behind a battler.

I don't think that there is a significant split amongst fans as is often reported. We all want the Club to do well.

There are a few on here who seem to get a kick out of moaning and knocking the Club but they are a very small minority even of our reducing crowd base.

Most of us are desperately hoping that Michael Appleton can get the players performing at 110% because that is what you need in this horrible division.

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1952 rover says...
9:47am Mon 14 Jan 13

Some risk double your pay and length of contract. A no brainier if you ask any one in the work place..

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dangerous dave says...
9:51am Mon 14 Jan 13

No risk on Appletons part - mate of Shaws - doubles his salary - if he gets sacked more of a pay off - not much to think about on his part - like the rest of them and irrespective of any positive quotes from him he's here for one reason 'money'!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!
Time will tell but still feel a bad appointment and not what the fans had been promised in terms of experience and as for club loyalty - well what can you say only at Blackpool a matter of weeks - yes hes joined the 'complete circus'
OUT WITH SHAW AGNEW SINGH HENDRY COAR VENKYS

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moh says...
10:12am Mon 14 Jan 13

BRFC75 wrote:
If it comes down to desire and managerial effort , Appleton is well worth getting behind. Question is this &lt; Was it Shaw that made the decision and went ahead and appointed Appleton ? AND NOT the Singh/ Hendry combo ? If it was Singh/Hendry who went after Appleton the papers would be full of quotes and comments like &quot;Appleton ticks all the boxes" Every prospective manager that Singh went for in the past we have been inundated with continual quotes from Hendry on Kean/Black/Berg and McKinlay ,Sherwood, all the same quotes /statements "Kean/Black/Berg/McK inley /Sherwood TICKS ALL THE RIGHT BOXES ! No quote or comment yet on Appleton so clearly HE DOES NOT tick all the boxes for the Singh/Hendry pair ,maybe when they quote a prospective manager and they say he ticks all the boxes maybe that means (MY JOB WILL BE SAFE WITH THIS GUY ) that is really what TICK ALL THE RIGHT BOXES REALLY MEANS. Good Luck Michael Appleton full backing and support AND we are glad the bludgers are not saying you tick all the right boxes because we know what it really means.
average manager and poor choice looking at his record. Hope players play for him.

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Dukes says...
12:01pm Mon 14 Jan 13

VENKYS AND APPLETON OUT.

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fanny_tickler. says...
12:19pm Mon 14 Jan 13

Appleton OUT!

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leitchy says...
12:36pm Mon 14 Jan 13

Agreed with whats said...but does that make him the right man for the job?

The players dont think so...especially Murphy, so will they play for him?

Doent matter what the fans think...they will come round if they get a couple of wins!! But the players will not play for him if they dont want him in charge. Just like thet didn't for Berg! Then with GB they liked him and suddenly we got 3wins and a draw....

Time will tell if they will play for him...I doubt it!!

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leitchy says...
1:27pm Mon 14 Jan 13

Agreed with whats said...but does that make him the right man for the job?

The players dont think so...especially Murphy, so will they play for him?

Doent matter what the fans think...they will come round if they get a couple of wins!! But the players will not play for him if they dont want him in charge. Just like thet didn't for Berg! Then with GB they liked him and suddenly we got 3wins and a draw....

Time will tell if they will play for him...I doubt it!!

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BRFCs says...
2:24pm Mon 14 Jan 13

I think Appleton deserves some patience in the job. Not my choice personally but he seems to be a feisty character and willing to risk his reputation at an absolute joke of a club. Ultimately, we have to get behind him. Otherwise, what else are we left with?

Also, the players have been great since Berg left, i'm sure they'll carry this on for themselves and the fans. That's all that matters, forget Venky's.

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gingerprince says...
3:19pm Mon 14 Jan 13

fanny_tickler. wrote:
Appleton OUT!
Get on your own site you parasite give appleton a chance you cant say appleton out without him managing a game u ****

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LittleRonnieHildersley says...
4:06pm Mon 14 Jan 13

BRFC75 wrote:
If it comes down to desire and managerial effort , Appleton is well worth getting behind.
Question is this &lt; Was it Shaw that made the decision and went ahead and appointed Appleton ?
AND NOT the Singh/ Hendry combo ?

If it was Singh/Hendry who went after Appleton the papers would be full of quotes and comments like &quot;Appleton ticks all the boxes"
Every prospective manager that Singh went for in the past we have been inundated with continual quotes from Hendry on Kean/Black/Berg and McKinlay ,Sherwood, all the same quotes /statements "Kean/Black/Berg/McK

inley /Sherwood TICKS ALL THE RIGHT BOXES !
No quote or comment yet on Appleton so clearly HE DOES NOT tick all the boxes for the Singh/Hendry pair ,maybe when they quote a prospective manager and they say he ticks all the boxes maybe that means (MY JOB WILL BE SAFE WITH THIS GUY ) that is really what TICK ALL THE RIGHT BOXES REALLY MEANS.
Good Luck Michael Appleton full backing and support AND we are glad the bludgers are not saying you tick all the right boxes because we know what it really means.
Looking at varous 'tweets' it looks like this wasn't any of them but instigated by Appleton's and his agent - so all done by Agents and not JA. Who knows what the politics are and yes Rovers are paying him double Blackpool but the guy isn't short of a bob or two as he had a £million+ compensation from a botched op.

At this momentit's time to get behind him and team and see what happens, so I share yor sentiments.

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Supernova531 says...
8:08pm Mon 14 Jan 13

I don't see any risk on Appleton's part either. He has left a job that he clearly did not want and doubled his salary in the process, if it does not work out he will make as much as he can for as long as it lasts, that is the reality of modern day managers.
I do however think that he has allowed the money to cloud his judgement slightly. Maybe he thinks that he will be able to take control in a way that others before him have failed to do and if he succeeds I for one will be delighted but realistically Venky's will carry on in their own sweet way not giving a toss about anyone involved with the club. There is value at the club yet in financial terms and Venky's will be going nowhere until it sits safely in their personal bank accounts in India.
I do wish you luck Mr Appleton, if you can sort this mess out you will go down in Rovers history there is no doubting that!!

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Supernova531 says...
8:11pm Mon 14 Jan 13

I don't see any risk on Appleton's part either. He has left a job that he clearly did not want and doubled his salary in the process, if it does not work out he will make as much as he can for as long as it lasts, that is the reality of modern day managers.
I do however think that he has allowed the money to cloud his judgement slightly. Maybe he thinks that he will be able to take control in a way that others before him have failed to do and if he succeeds I for one will be delighted but realistically Venky's will carry on in their own sweet way not giving a toss about anyone involved with the club. There is value at the club yet in financial terms and Venky's will be going nowhere until it sits safely in their personal bank accounts in India.
I do wish you luck Mr Appleton, if you can sort this mess out you will go down in Rovers history there is no doubting that!!

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blackburnsoutherner says...
8:36pm Mon 14 Jan 13

fanny_tickler. wrote:
Appleton OUT!
Do one dippy!!!!!! MA is not one of them managers to back down from a chairman let alone SS!!!!!! He WILL pickthe team and he WILL buy who he wants!!!!!! Hasnt had the pplayers under the last 2 teams so his inherited and good team straight away!!! AND his all about fitness so give it 2weeks and the likes of Murphy and to old boys will be finally pulling there finger out

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cruzy_cruz says...
9:09pm Mon 14 Jan 13

In truth Rovers make Portsmouth look like a professionally run club because Portsmouth would not have survived administration with our fractured and incompetent board

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oddmanjack says...
9:40pm Mon 14 Jan 13

Let's get behind Michael Appleton. Let's drive Singh and our one time legend Hendry out! If I was the new gaffer, I would make sure Danny Murphy knew exactly who I was! Nobody disputes the fantastic job Gary and Terry have done but live on Sky Sports probably wasn't the best place to show your ignorance Danny.

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oddmanjack says...
9:40pm Mon 14 Jan 13

Let's get behind Michael Appleton. Let's drive Singh and our one time legend Hendry out! If I was the new gaffer, I would make sure Danny Murphy knew exactly who I was! Nobody disputes the fantastic job Gary and Terry have done but live on Sky Sports probably wasn't the best place to show your ignorance Danny.

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French Rover says...
9:45pm Mon 14 Jan 13

oddmanjack wrote:
Let's get behind Michael Appleton. Let's drive Singh and our one time legend Hendry out! If I was the new gaffer, I would make sure Danny Murphy knew exactly who I was! Nobody disputes the fantastic job Gary and Terry have done but live on Sky Sports probably wasn't the best place to show your ignorance Danny.
spot-on comments...Murphy was out of order saying what he did. He has been in the game long enough to know what he as doing - he acted like a child who had thrown his toys out of the pram. Give the new guy a chance - I think he might just do a good job.

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Angry From Accrington says...
9:56pm Mon 14 Jan 13

Taken a risk? What a ridiculous statement! It is understandable that we'll meaning amateurs make stupid comments but for a professional journalist to spout such nonsense is inexcusable. What risk is there attached to two and a half year contract with no penalties for failure? Go back to school Andy.

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Lancs - pensioner says...
4:11am Tue 15 Jan 13

Mr Appleton
I suggest you get rid of Hendry as soon as you take over, his reputation as a coach is awful and his personal life is tarnished to say the least, stamp your authority straight away, I gave this advise to Mr Berg but he choose to ignore it at his peril!!

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Lancs - pensioner says...
4:12am Tue 15 Jan 13

Mr Appleton
I suggest you get rid of Hendry as soon as you take over, his reputation as a coach is awful and his personal life is tarnished to say the least, stamp your authority straight away, I gave this advise to Mr Berg but he choose to ignore it at his peril!!

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noddy57 says...
2:29pm Tue 15 Jan 13

you can take all the scenarios you care to mention into account but one thing will always be Apparent and that is the Venkys have virtually destroyed this once proud and successfull founder member of the football league in a systamatic way that verges on the criminal,l will never accept this regime or its pathetic appointments,,

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noddy57 says...
2:35pm Tue 15 Jan 13

you can take all the scenarios you care to mention into account but one thing will always be Apparent and that is the Venkys have virtually destroyed this once proud and successfull founder member of the football league in a systamatic way that verges on the criminal,l will never accept this regime or its pathetic appointments,,

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jackmetickler says...
4:08pm Tue 15 Jan 13

oh no not another Manc.....
better lock up the cars and inform the drug squad.

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bburnrover says...
8:36am Wed 16 Jan 13

Get Bently and Warnock back on loan they areboth available lets add a bit of class to our ailing team.

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