Third paragraph of this article. http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/sport/pompey/appleton-encouraged-by-positive-trust-talks-1-4424830
Hopefully the number of times he'll have had to be in negotiations on his behalf will tell Ben all he needs to know. If not the attendance of five or six thousand on the first game after his appointment reducing to three or four by the time we are relegated in March might. Ben. Mr Mansford. Sir. If you are watching this, or if anybody at the club is, pass it on. We. Do. Not. Want. Michael. Appleton.
I'm not making any link because I think Ben is too astute to make a mistake as big as giving Appleton the job. Our next manager will not be Appleton.
This just makes less likely Appleton will come to Oakwell. Even if he was a fair candidate, Ben is out of the agency game and can't risk being associated with anything that would be seen as being of self interest. I think we can rest easy on that score.