Derby axe boss McClaren again

STEVE McCLAREN has been sacked by Derby for the second time in less than two years.

The 55-year-old former England manager, below, returned to Derby last October, following his May 2015 dismissal, but a wretched run of results has ended his second spell.

“Derby County have parted company with manager Steve McClaren with immediate effect,” the club said in a statement.

McClaren’s five months in charge ended in the wake of Friday’s 3-0 defeat at secondplaced Brighton, who are chasing automatic promotion.

Chairman Mel Morris said there was something “fundamental” lacking from the “heartbeat, commitment, focus and passion” of the team. The Rams have won once in nine league matches since the turn of the year – against Barnsley on March 4 – and are 10 points adrift of a play-off place with nine games remaining.

Morris said: “Steve is a great coach, we have very talented players and first-class facilities but the heartbeat, commitment, focus and passion has been lacking something fundamental.

“The Brighton game on Friday night was so far from what we expect to see from those wearing a Derby County shirt.”

The statement pointed to the club’s miserable run of form.

“Since the turn of the year we have experienced a significant, unexpected and persistent decline in results, team unity and morale,” it read. “Our form over the last 10 games would place us above the relegation group by goal difference alone.

“The club expect to make an announcement in relation to Steve’s successor in the next few days.”

Bookmakers made former Birmingham manager Gary Rowett, who played for Derby, an early favourite for the job.

Derby also announced the departures of assistant manager Chris Powell and technical director Chris Evans.