Baggies manager Hodgson spoke of the speculation linking his assistant head coach Appleton with the vacant Pompey job after Saturday's 3-0 Premier League defeat at Arsenal. "I think they are interested in him, which does not surprise me because he is a very good coach," said Hodgson of the Championship club's interest in Appleton. "If the offer does come to him and he decides to take it, it will be a huge blow for us and we will be very sad to lose him, both players and staff. "One can then only congratulate Portsmouth on discovering him, as it were, and realising that in him they have a potentially fine new manager. "As far as I am concerned, it is up to Michael himself. If the offer comes his way and he wants to take it, I will back him to the hilt in terms of him going."
