Dan Ashworth's shock sacking from Manchester United has had a knock-on effect with Michael Appleton no longer returning to his former club as loan manager.
Ashworth had lined up Appleton to succeed Les Parry in the loans department and possibly take on a coaching role after moving from Newcastle in July to become United's new sporting director.
Speculation that Appleton could be appointed to oversee United's young players on loan at other clubs grew in October when he was spotted alongside Ashworth and sporting director Jason Wilcox at Salford City's Peninsula Stadium, where Under-20s 21 against Hertha Berlin played in the Premier League International. Cup.
But Ashworth was sacked in December after just five months, boosting Appleton's chances of rejoining United, where he started out in the club's academy in the 1990s.
The 49-year-old former Portsmouth, Blackpool, Blackburn and Lincoln boss now wants to return to management, a year after leaving Charlton Athletic.
A source close to him said: 'I understand that following the departure of Dan Ashworth, Michael Appleton will not be joining Manchester United in a loan/coaching role and will look to continue his management and coaching career.'
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