BAGGIES TO TARGET APPLETON AS PARDS PAYS PRICE

WEST BROM are weighing up a move for Michael Appleton after sacking Alan Pardew. The doomed Premier League basement club yesterday brought Pardew’s miserable four-month reign to an end after just one win in 18 top-flight games. Former Albion player and coach Appleton – currently No.2 to Claude Puel at Leicester – is high on the club’s list to spearhead their recovery in the Championship next season. Darren Moore is in caretaker charge for their

remaining six games. Other names in the frame include Aberdeen’s Derek McInnes, Solihull-born Graham Potter of Swedish club Ostersunds, Nigel Pearson and Brentford boss Dean Smith.

But Appleton (left) is the front-runner. New Albion CEO Mark Jenkins has promised an overhaul in the summer following a desperate season.

Jenkins knows Leicester assistant boss Appleton, 42, from his playing days at the Hawthorns before he moved into coaching.