Michael Appleton: Blackburn set to appoint Blackpool boss

Blackburn Rovers are set to appoint Blackpool manager Michael Appleton as their new boss on Friday.

Blackburn were granted permission to speak to the former Portsmouth boss, who has only been at Blackpool for 66 days, on Thursday evening.

The deal to take the 37-year-old to Ewood Park is expected to be completed swiftly and he may watch Rovers play Wolves from the stands at Molineux.

Caretaker boss Gary Bowyer is likely to be in charge of the team.

He has led Blackburn to three straight wins in his temporary spell as boss.

The Tangerines rejected the initial approach for Appleton, who only took charge at Bloomfield Road on 7 November.

But a club statement released on Thursday said: "Following discussions with Blackburn Rovers and Michael Appleton, permission has been granted for the manager to discuss personal terms with the club."

First-team coach Ashley Westwood will also speak to Blackburn about joining Appleton.

Rovers have won all three matches since Henning Berg was sacked on 27 December.

Appleton did not take training at Blackpool on Thursday, with assistant Steve Thompson leading the session.

Appleton left Portsmouth on 7 November to replace Ian Holloway at Bloomfield Road and has won two, lost two and drawn eight of his 12 matches in charge of the Seasiders.

Rovers are in 13th place in the Championship, five points short of the play-off places and one place above Blackpool, whose last win came against Blackburn on 15 December.

Blackpool have earmarked Bradford City manager Phil Parkinson as a possible replacement for Appleton.