Can Lincoln City supporters breathe that little bit easier now?
As the Imps suffered play-off final heartbreak at the hands of Blackpool in late May, reports linking manager Michael Appleton with a move to West Bromwich Albion suggested an era of almost constant overachievement was coming to a close.
According to reports, Appleton has joined the likes of Chris Wilder, David Wagner, Valerien Ismael and co on West Brom’s managerial shortlist – and with good reason.
Is Appleton returning to West Brom?
One of the most impressive young coaches in the Football League, Appleton also has a good relationship with Baggies director Luke Dowling following his short-lived spell on the West Brom staff in 2019.
Did we mention the Salford-born 45-year-old is also a former West Brom player, having spent the final two seasons of his playing career patrolling the Hawthorns engine room?
Reports linking Appleton with the job vacated by Sam Allardyce following the club’s relegation from the Premier League, then, always felt inevitable.
But, according to Lincoln Live, Appleton isn’t spending his days looking for houses in the West Midlands while weighing up the pros and cons of Jake Livermore.
His focus is firmly fixed on going one step further with a Championship-chasing Imps side instead. West Brom, meanwhile, have yet to hold talks with Appleton or even express interest in the former Baggies player/coach.
That, of course, could soon change.
For now, however, there’s growing confidence Appleton will be leading Lincoln into another promotion battle next season.
Here’s what some Lincoln City fans on Twitter had to say about the situation:
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