APPLES & PAIRS
Fox: Michael is from same mould as old Baggies pal Del
RUEL FOX would love Michael Appleton to land the Hibs job so he can battle it out with his old West Brom team-mate Derek McInnes. And the former Baggies winger admitted he could see the same qualities in the red-hot favourite for the Easter Road job as he did in the Aberdeen manager. Appleton followed the Class of 92 at Manchester United before moving to Preston. But after a switch to West Brom his career was cruelly cut short by a training ground injury at the Hawthorns at just 27. Fox believes Hibs could be the perfect club for him after emerging stronger from being in charge of basket cases Blackpool and Blackburn in his early days in management. Appleton lasted just 65 and 67 days at each of the Lancashire rivals and a total of three jobs in 15 months before his most successful three-year spell at Oxford.
Fox hopes the 43-year-old is unveiled this week and becomes the second of his West Brom pals to operate in Scotland’s top flight.
He said: “Michael’s in the same kind of mould as McInnes in that he was brought up at a big club after coming through at Manchester United.
“He loved his football and was a bit of a stat guy so you felt he would go into management because you can tell with certain players in the way they study football.
“Like Derek, he was thorough in how he prepared for games and it will be funny to see the two come up against each other.
“Derek was at Rangers in the early part of his career where he would have learned all about high standards and Michael’s the same at Old Trafford.
“He knows the English leagues well now and his mate Derek is at Aberdeen so I’m sure he’ll offer some advice on Scottish football.
“Hibs are well run and have a family feel. It’s a great opportunity for him.”
But nothing could have prepared Appleton for a double administration in his first job at Portsmouth or chaotic spells in Lancashire.
Fox said: “You could say he was unfortunate to take over at Blackpool and Blackburn when he did.
“It probably makes you stronger dealing with that kind of turmoil and if you still want to be a manager it shows the determination.
“My mate Chris Sutton had six months at Lincoln and it killed him and he didn’t want to go back to management again.
“Michael has worked in real tough situations so to go to a club where everything is in place and just needs a tweak is perfect.”
It will be funny to see the two come up against each other RUEL FOX