Sources: Ex-Lincoln City boss Michael Appleton top contender to be new Salford City manager
Former Lincoln City boss Michael Appleton is the leading contender for the manager’s job at Salford City following the sacking of Gary Bowyer, Football Insider understands.
Salford sacked Bowyer earlier on Tuesday (16 May) after they missed out on the League Two play-offs.
An industry source has told Football Insider that Appleton is the favourite to take over after leaving Lincoln at the end of the League One season.
The 46-year-old, who was born in Salford, left the Imps after guiding them to a 17th-placed finish following a difficult start to the campaign.
He has links with Salford’s Class of ’92 owners as he was part of Man United’s youth team the following season but he only made one senior appearance for the club.
Bowyer signed a two-year deal at the Peninsula Stadium last summer (2021) following a spell in interim charge.
However, he was not able to improve on their eighth-place finish in his first season as Salford City missed out on a play-off spot for the third consecutive season.
Appleton has vast managerial experience and guided Lincoln City to the 2021 League One play-off final but they were beaten by Blackpool at Wembley.
He has managed at League Two level with Oxford United and guided them to a second-place finish and automatic promotion in the 2015-16 season.
The Englishman won 39 of the 92 games he has taken charge of in England’s third-tier, a win rate of 42.4 per cent.
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