Michael Appleton: Blackpool reject Blackburn approach

Blackpool have rejected an approach from Blackburn for permission to speak to their manager Michael Appleton.

Rovers made the move on Wednesday night after sacking Henning Berg on 27 December.

Appleton, 37, only joined Blackpool from Portsmouth in November as a replacement for Ian Holloway who left for Crystal Palace.

He has been in charge of the Seasiders for 12 matches, winning two and drawing eight.

Berg won one game in 10 at Blackburn, but the club have won three in a row under caretaker Gary Bowyer.

Rovers are in 13th place in the Championship, five points short of the play-off places and one point above Blackpool.

Blackpool's last win came against Blackburn on 15 December and the two sides are one place apart in the Championship table.

Last week, Rovers global advisor Shebby Singh told BBC Radio Lancashire that the club wanted their next manager to accept a short-term contract.

Singh said: "If somebody has got the ambition, the knowledge and the experience, there will be people who will take the job.

"We are looking to offer a short-term contract with specific targets, and upon achieving those targets it will trigger a longer-term contract."