Appleton: I will rebuild Pompey

Portsmouth have named West Bromwich Albion assistant head coach Michael Appleton as their new manager. The 35-year-old has signed a three-and-a-half-year deal and will take over from Steve Cotterill, who left for Nottingham Forest last month.

Appleton has held various coaching roles at The Hawthorns since 2003 but this is his first job as a permanent manager. "I'm delighted and excited to be taking the job," said Appleton. "You get judged on results and the first team is the most important thing, but we want to build the infrastructure of the club, developing the academy and hopefully along the line getting our own training ground."

PA