Clement gets chop for slump at Derby

PAUL CLEMENT has been sacked by Derby County after just eight months as manager. Owner Mel Morris last night pulled the trigger after witnessing a sequence of seven Championship games without a win, and appointed academy director and former defender Darren Wassall in charge until the end of the season.

Clement arrived to huge fanfare last summer, replacing axed Steve McClaren on a three-year contract worth around £1million, but he has paid the price for overseeing a slump in results that leaves promotion to the Premier League in the balance.

Derby are fifth in the table, five points off leaders Hull having played a game more, and Morris, who has spent £25million on new players, is determined to reach the top flight.

Clement (below), former assistant to Carlo Ancelotti at Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid, is set to receive £2m compensation. First-team coach John Peacock, who left his role as England Under 17 manager to team up with Clement, is also expected to lose his job.

Morris, a hugely wealthy local businessman, said: ‘When Paul joined us we worked with him to develop a plan for the club which we asked him to embrace.

‘Promotion this season was not the primary target. The priorities were building on the Derby way and style of football enjoyed in the past two seasons, adding depth and strength to our playing squad, and developing and improving player and team performance.

‘Sadly, on these measurements, we have not made enough progress and that is why we have decided to part company with Paul. I firmly believe we have one of the very best firstteam squads in this league. Our players are highly talented professionals who are more than capable of winning games at this level and beyond.’

The 43-year-old was backed in the transfer market — with Tom Ince, Bradley Johnson and Jacob Butterfield among the significant signings — and he guided Derby to top spot in December. But the side stuttered in recent weeks and in the aftermath of the 1-1 draw against Reading last month, Morris, frustrated by the display, went to the dressing room to deliver his opinion. A number of names have been linked with the job, including David Moyes, Tim Sherwood and Gary Rowett. Moyes is thought to be holding out for a Premier League position, while Rowett has recently signed a new contract at Birmingham.