His name emerged even before Burnley had confirmed that the financial package had been agreed with Bournemouth for the release of Eddie Howe.
It was not a name I immediately thought of but is one that has certainly captured my imagination. Speculation, right now, suggests he is very much one of the names being considered by the Clarets.
Asked about it today by the Midhurst and Petworth Observer, Appleton said: "I suppose with me being from up north people are going to put two and two together and make their own ideas up on what I am or am not going to do.
‘To be honest, my kids live up north. I am not with their mum now but we are good friends, but football is one of those games that if you play, manage or coach, anyone who is part of my family realises I might be there the next minute, I might not.
‘Now, at the minute, I am settled down here. I have been down here nearly 12 months. It’s a little bit warmer than it is up north and I have got a lot of friends here now."
He added: "It’s a difficult one really in terms of I have not spoken to any one of those two football clubs (he's also been linked with Bolton), and until they contact this club it is a question I cannot really answer. If there is no truth in it, what can I do?"
Appleton joined Portsmouth as manager, his first managerial role, when Steve Cotterill moved to Nottingham Forest. He'd previously been first team coach at West Brom under both Roberto Di Matteo and Roy Hodgson.
He was appointed on 10th November and within a month had secured his team a 1-0 win at Turf Moor against the Clarets.
It's difficult to judge his work at Portsmouth given the state of that club and what they've gone through again in the last year, but the manager, who comes with recommendations from both Sir Alex Ferguson and Roy Hodgson, is certainly making people sit up and take notice.
Source: FOOTYMAD
