LOOK WHO’S BACK!
McClaren returns to Rams for 5th time,
THEY say never go back in football. Steve McClaren has returned to Derby County for a fifth time!
The 59-year-old has agreed a contract to act as an advisor to the board with immediate effect.
He will also assume the role of Technical Director, a position which has been identified in agreement between Rams chairman Mel Morris and Derventio Holdings, and is subject to ratification by Derventio Holdings’ board following completion of the takeover.
I first met McClaren in 1985 when he was a midfielder at Derby. He returned as first-team coach under Jim Smith and helped the club to win promotion to the Premier League in 1995-96.
McClaren left to become assistant at Manchester United and the former England boss has a wealth of managerial experience, having been in charge at Middlesbrough, Derby (twice), Nottingham Forest, Newcastle United and Queens Park Rangers, as well as managerial spells in Holland and Germany.
All appointments can split opinion. Some fans will remember the free-flowing football played by McClaren’s Derby in 2013-14 and 2014-15, but they will also recall how the Rams fell out of promotion races on other occasions.
There are a lot of moving parts at the club just now – the takeover and the search for a new manager following Phillip Cocu’s departure – but it appears one piece of the jigsaw has fallen into place with McClaren’s appointment.
In this role, he can offer his knowledge and experience and his standing in the game at a critical time for the club. It looks a logical move with new owners set to come in.
What it means in terms of who will be the next manager remains to be seen.
Does it point to an inexperienced or firsttime manager? McClaren has the know-how to guide.
The announcement was made by the club in a statement yesterday.
“Steve McClaren has agreed a contract to act as an advisor to the board with immediate effect,” it read.
“In this capacity he will assume the role and duties of both advisor and Technical Director, a position which has been identified by agreement between Mel Morris and Derventio Holdings as important to the future of the club.
“The permanent status of the Technical Director role will be subject to ratification by Derventio Holdings’ board following completion of the club acquisition.” Chief executive Stephen Pearce, who could stay on once ownership is transitioned from Morris to Derventio, said: “We are delighted to have Steve’s help and support at this critical time. “His knowledge, experience and acad em i c qualifications will be invaluable to us. I am sure he will make a huge contribution.”