Exclusive: Doncaster set to reveal Appleton as new Rovers manager today

The former Blackburn Rovers, Blackpool and Portsmouth chief appears to be winning the two-man race to become Rovers chief and is being tipped to beat long-time bookies favourite Paul Dickov for the Keepmoat Stadium post.

The Rovers board will hold final discussions with both candidates this morning before making their decision, with a press conference due at 4pm.

Rovers, who spoke to four candidates after whittling down a considerable number of initial applications down to a shortlist, interviewed leading candidates Appleton and Dickov for the post on Friday.

Appleton, 37, is thought to have impressed the Rovers board with his vision for the future, with chairman John Ryan having stated earlier this month that the club were seeking a young and progressive manager.

Former Scotland manager Craig Levein, who had a spell south of the border at Leicester City, is also thought to have been among other candidates interviewed by the Rovers board and director of football Brian Flynn, with the club concluding their interviewing process late last week.

Former Oldham Athletic manager Dickov, 40, had been the short-priced favourite to replace Flynn after it was announced that the 57-year-old Welshman would not be handed the Rovers position full time on a long-term basis after stepping into the breach for the rest of the 2012-13 campaign – assisted by player-coach and captain Rob Jones – following the departure of Dean Saunders to Championship strugglers Wolverhampton Wanderers in early January.

The ex-Manchester City and Leicester City forward is well known to Rovers supremo Ryan, who lives close to him in Cheshire, with the former Scottish 
international thought to have been a regular at Rovers games since leaving Boundary Park in February.

Dickov’s Latics side knocked Rovers out of the FA Cup at the start of December, with Ryan and the Rovers board having been impressed by the job that he has done with limited resources in Lancashire with the club facing Doncaster three times in quick succession over the winter.

But it appears that Appleton is now leading the running to become Rovers boss later today, with the Mancunian having been out of work since leaving Ewood Park after a short 67-day spell in charge at the start of the spring.

If Appleton, as seems likely, is sworn in today, it will represent the fourth club he has been in charge of since last November.

On the managerial situation, a statement on Rovers website released over the weekend said: “Interviewing started last week with the four candidates meeting the club’s owners and chief executive ahead of the appointment.

“It has now been confirmed that an official announcement will be made at 4pm on Monday (May 20).”

Football was aghast in March when ex-Preston North End and Manchester United midfielder Appleton was controversially sacked by Blackburn after taking charge for just 15 games, winning just four.

He had only left Blackpool to join Rovers in January after just 65 days in the dug-out at Bloomfield Road, signing a two-and-half year deal with the Ewood outfit.

Appleton carved out a reputation as a talented coach at West Brom, following his playing retirement at the age of 27 in 2003 following a serious knee injury.

He also won plenty of recognition for the way he managed crisis club Portsmouth through stricken times at the south coast club, who he finally left in November to take over at Bloomfield Road.

Highly regarded in footballing managerial and coaching circles, Appleton recently accepted an invitation from Roy Hodgson, who he worked with at the Hawthorns, to observe England’s training ahead of their forthcoming friendly with Republic of Ireland.

If Appleton is chosen, his in-tray will be considerable with a number of players who were influential in their successful League One title crusade last season – when they made an instant return to the Championship – have left the club. Chris Brown, Tommy Spurr, Kyle Bennett and Paul Keegan are those out of contract at the end of June.

Loan players Iain Hume and John Lundestram have returned to their parent clubs Preston and Everton.

Rovers released five players last week – including last season’s first choice goalkeeper Gary Woods.

Martin Woods has also been freed following an injury-hit 2012-13, with midfielder Lee Fowler, young striker Jordan Ball and midfielder Paddy Mullen also following him through the exit door.

Veteran goalkeeper Neil Sullivan, Brown, Spurr, Bennett, Keegan, Paul Quinn, Andy Griffin, Jon Maxted and Liam Wakefield have all been told they will meet with the new manager imminently to discuss contract extensions.

Referee Mark Halsey yesterday brought his whistle-blowing career to an end.

The 51-year-old officiated for the final time as Norwich beat Manchester City 3-2.

[email protected]